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THE    BOYS    OF    1745 

AT  THE  CAPTURE  OF  LOUISBOURG 


'x        ''    V^'^i^^^ 


m 


THE    BOYS   OF   174S 


AT  THE 


CAPTURE  OF   LOUISBOURG 


JAMES    OTIS 

Author  of  "Toby  Tyler,"  "The  Boys'  Revolt,"  "Jenny  Wren's 

BOARDING-HoUSE,"    "JeRRY'S    FAMILY,"    ETC. 


SllustraUH 


BOSTON 

ESTES    AND    LAURIAT 

1895 


Copyright,  i8gj. 

By   Estes   and   Lauriat 

All  rights  reserved 


Typography  and  Printing  by 

C.  H.  Simonds  &•  Co. 

Electrotyping  by  Geo.  C.  Scoff  &>  Sons 

Bostou,  U.  S.  A. 


CONTENTS. 


Page 

Preface        7 

Chapter      I.     Volunteer  Soldiers ii 

Chapter     II.     An  Unexpected  Visitor 27 

Chapter  III.     A  Chance  Shot 38 

Chapter    IV.     A  Confession 55 

Chapter     V.     A  Nicht  Attack 68 

Chapter    VI.     An  Appeal 80 


LIST  OF   ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Destroying  Stores Frontispiece 

Page 

Major  Storer  Receives  the  Recruits 14 

Phil  Guarding  Dick 21 

"Twice  did  Colonel  Vaughan  Call  Him  into  thk  Cabin"  24 

Dick's  Visit 31 

"  Not  a  Man  Could  be  Seen  " 39 

"You  Bring  Brave  News" 43 

Colonel  Vaughan  Hit 49 

"Keei'  the  Flames  Down" 51 

"It  was  You  Who  Tried  to  Shoot  Colonel  Vaughan"     .  59 

"So  IT  was  You" 63 

"He'll  be  Hanged" 69 

Phil  is  Wounded 73 

"  Dick  was  Bent,  Like  an  Old  Man  " S3 

"The  Sentinel  Stood  Irresolutely"        .        .        .        .        .  87 

"The  Town  was  Ablaze" 91 


THE    BOYS  OF   174? 

AT  THE   CAPTURE  OF  LOUISBOURG. 


CHAPTER    I. 

VOLUNTEER    SOLDIERS. 

FROM  the  middle  of  February  until  the  24th  of 
March  (on  the  day  when  the  fleet  of  ninety  trans- 
ports and  thirteen  vessels  of  war  sailed  from  Nantasket 
Roads,  in  Boston  Harbour,  bound  on  an  expedition  of 
war  to  Nova  Scotia),  the  town  of  Portsmouth,  in  the 
colony  of  New  Hampshire,  was  in  a  ferment  of  excite- 
ment. 

That  the  colonies  were  sufficiently  strong  to  assist  the 
mother  country  in  war  surprised  the  thoughtless  to  the 
verge  of  bewilderment,  and  many  of  the  better-informed 
citizens  gravely  questioned  whether  it  was  not  a  fool- 
hardy piece  of  bravado  to  make  an  attack  upon  a  place  so 
strongly  fortified  as  was  the  French  port  of  Louisbourg 
in  Nova  Scotia. 

Groups  of  people  might  have  been  seen  conversing  on 
the  streets  at  all  hours  of  the  day,  and  even  late  in  the 
evening,  without  fear  of  reprimand  from  those  in  author- 


12  THE  BOYH  OF  1745. 

ity,  and  it  was  an  unusual  occurrence  when  men  or  boys 
passed  each  other  without  at  least  referring  to  the  daring 
campaign  about  to  be  begun  by  the  colonies  of  Massa- 
chusetts, Connecticut  and  New  Hampshire. 

Therefore  it  was  that  when  Philip  Towle  and  Richard 
Sanbourne  met  in  front  of  Master  Leavitt's  store  on  a 
certain  morning  in  March,  instead  of  discussing  the  possi- 
bility of  trapping  musquash  or  mink  before  the  ice  had 
left  the  stream,  they  spoke  of  the  proposed  expedition, 
and  Philip  startled  his  companion  not  a  little  by  announc- 
ing, boldly, — 

"  I  rowed  across  to  Master  Pepperrell's  last  evening." 

"  Master  Pepperrell }  I  should  think  you  might  call 
him  general,  since  he  has  been  commissioned  by  the 
Governors  of  three  colonies." 

"Then  it  was  to  General  Pepperrell's  that  I  went," 
Philip  replied,  with  a  smile. 

"  What  had  you  to  find  there  .''  " 

"  I  wanted  to  see  Major  John  Storer,  who  is  seeking 
recruits." 

"  Have  you  taken  it  into  your  head  to  go  to  war,  Phil 
Towle  ? " 

"  Why  not }  I  was  sixteen  years  old  last  January,  and 
already  have  arms  •  as  the  law  requires.  As  for  the 
uniform,  I  can  do  without  one,  or  get  mother  to  change 
these  clothes  over.  Sam  Lowrey  has  already  signed  the 
rolls,  and  doe.s  n't  intend  to  trouble  himself  about  a 
soldier's  coat." 

"  But  what  made  you  think  of  such  a  thing } " 


VOLUNTKEh:  SOLDIERS.  I  3 

"  The  need  of  money,  Dick.  You  know  how  hard  it  is 
to  earn  as  much  as  may  be  needed  for  taxes,  and  the  furs 
I  have  taken  this  season  won't  sell  for  enough  to  pay 
them.  Mother  does  all  she  can,  and  a  hard  time  she  has 
of  it,  poor  thing,  since  father  was  killed." 

"  It  is  not  much  you  can  earn  as  a  soldier.  I  am  told 
that  the  wages  are  only  twenty-five  shillings  a  month, 
which  means  but  fourteen  sterling,  —  not  quite  a  six- 
pence a  day." 

"  It  will  be  better  than  nothing ;  and  there  should  be 
prize-money,  so  Major  Storer  says.  Ev'en  without  it,  two 
months'  pay  would  be  a  great  aid  to  mother  just  now." 

"  Then  you  have  decided  .'" 

"  Yes,  it  amounts  to  that ;  for  unless  something  happens 
I  shall  enlist  this  evening." 

"  And  the  major  told  you  there  would  be  prize-money 
for  the  soldiers.-* " 

"  He  said  there  should  be,  in  case  the  town  was  cap- 
tured." 

"  I  suppose  the  soldiers  will  be  allowed  to  loot  it .-' " 
Dick  said,  thoughtfully. 

•'  It  is  usually  considered  their  privilege,  I  am  told." 

"  Phil,  I  have  a  mind  to  go  with  you." 

"  I  wish  you  might,  but  there  is  no  necessity  in  your 
case,  as  in  mine." 

"  That  makes  no  difference.  I  don't  believe  father 
would  object,  particularly  after  I  tell  him  about  the  prize- 
money." 

Philip  made  no  reply.      He  did  not  wish  to  influence 


14 


THE  BO  YS  OF  1745. 


his  companion  in  any  way,  much  as  he  would  be  pleased 
to  have  him  for  a  comrade.  To  him,  the  enlistment  was 
a  means  by  which  he  might  assist  his  widowed  mother, 
while  Dick  had  no  such  inducement  ;  his  father  was 
believed  to  be  blest  with  a  goodly  share  of  the  world's 
goods,  having  been  called  a  "  miser  "  by  more  than  one 


reputable  citizen,  therefore  it  seemed  as  if  his  son  might 
well  keep  out  of  danger,  unless  his  patriotism  was  at 
boiling  point,  which  was  not  at  all  probable. 

With  Phil,  enlistment  appeared  to  be  the  only  way  by 
which  he  could  earn  the  money  his  mother  needed  ;  he 
did  not  choose  to  become  a  soldier  because  of  a  love  for 


VOLUNTEER  SOLDIERS.  15 

glory,  or  the  thought  that  his  country  needed  him.  An 
invasion  of  Nova  Scotia,  whose  inhabitants  had  never 
done  any  wrong  to  the  colony  of  New  Hampshire,  was  a 
matter  which  failed  to  arouse  his  enthusiasm. 

Neither  was  Dick  enthusiastic  over  the  assault  upon 
the  fortified  town,  save  as  it  might  give  him  booty ;  and 
where  anything  of  value  was  concerned,  he  could  be 
almost  as  "close-fisted"  as  his  father. 

When  these  two  boys  presented  themselves  as  recruits 
that  evening,  Major  Storer  did  not  question  their 
motives,  but  received  them  as  gladly  as  he  would  have 
received  any  other  able-bodied  candidates  for  military 
honours  who  might  be  between  the  prescribed  ages  of 
"sixteen  and  sixty." 

After  having  been  accepted  as  volunteer  soldiers,  whose 
services  were  to  be  paid  for  by  the  colony,  the  new 
recruits  were  allowed  to  spend  the  greater  portion  of  their 
time  as  best  pleased  them.  There  was  no  question  of 
living  in  barracks,  because  none  were  provided  by  the 
Government  ;  it  was  necessary  to  spend  two  hours  each 
day  in  drill,  and  then  the  embryo  heroes  were  at  liberty  to 
go  where  they  wished,  save  on  four  especial  occasions, 
when  Parson  Moody  preached  even  longer  sermons  than 
usual,  to  the  supposed  improvement  of  their  military  edu- 
cation, as  well  as  the  salvation  of  their  soiils. 

Dick  never  lost  sight  of  the  idea  that  it  might  be  pos- 
sible for  him  to  suddenly  become  rich,  in  case  the  town 
was  captured  and  sacked ;  but  Phil's  mind  was  constantly 
dwelling  upon    the  coming    separation  from   his   mother. 


1 6  THE  BOYS  OF  1745. 

There  was  never  a  fellow  in  Portsmouth  who  could  truth- 
fully have  called  him  a  "sissy;"  but  he  had  not  been 
absent  from  home  a  single  night  since  he  was  able  to  re- 
member, and  it  was  not  pleasant  to  think  of  the  time 
when  it  would  be  impossible  to  kiss  his  mother  good-night. 

The  day  of  parting  came  all  too  soon,,  and  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  twentieth  of  March,  with  thirty  others  of  his 
company,  among  whom  was  Dick  Sanbourne,  he  went  on 
board  the  twelve-gun  sloop  "Vigilant,"  to  be  carried  to 
Nantasket  Roads,  the  rendezvous  of  the  squadron. 

This  particular  squad  thought  they  were  very  fortunate 
in  being  drafted  to  one  of  the  war-vessels,  instead  of 
being  quartered  on  board  an  over-crowded  transport,  and 
the  majority  of  them  were  in  the  highest  spirits,  believing 
it  would  be  but  a  comparatively  short  time  before  they 
returned,  crowned  with  wreaths  of  victory.  Perhaps  they 
did  not  count  on  coming  back  wearing  veritable  wreaths, 
but  they  certainly  expected  to  be  greeted  as  conquerors. 

Phil  was  far  from  being  in  a  jolly  mood.  He  had 
parted  with  his  mother  shortly  before  daybreak,  and  the 
tears  were  not  yet  dried  on  his  cheeks  when  the  sloop's 
mooring-lines  were  cast  off. 

It  was  but  a  short  journey  to  the  rendezvous,  thanks  to 
the  favouring  breeze,  and  the  ocean  did  not  treat  them 
roughly,  therefore  the  amateur  soldiers  were  in  good 
bodily  condition  when  they  arrived,  and  Phil  found  an 
antidote  for  homesickness  in  the  stirring  and  wonderful 
scenes  around  him. 

The  entire  fleet  lay  at  anchor  in  the  Roads,  and  it  was 


VOLUNTEER  SOLDIERS.  1 7 

such  a  spectacle  as  the  soldiers  from  Portsmouth  had  never 
witnessed  before. 

A  hundred  and  three  vessels,  thirteen  of  them  armed, 
with  red-coated  men  on  every  deck,  and  from  the  mast- 
head of  the  frigate  "  Massachusetts "  floating  the  flag 
which  bore  the  motto,  "  Nil  desperanditin.  Christo 
diice,''  which  had  been  suggested  by  Parson  George 
Whitefield. 

One  day  was  allowed  the  recruits  for  sight-seeing,  when 
Phil  and  Dick  visited  Boston  for  the  first  time,  and  then 
came  the  departure,  when  there  was  such  an  accompani- 
ment of  noisy  enthusiasm  that  Phil  had  no  opportunity  to 
indulge  in  tears.  Besides,  if  he  had  felt  like  crying  he 
would  have  forced  the  tears  back  at  whatever  pang,  for  he 
was  a  soldier,  and  as  such  should  be  too  manly  to  whimper 
like  a  baby. 

Three  hours  later  a  great  change  came  over  the  red- 
coated  portion  of  the  "Vigilant's  "  crew.  The  ocean  was 
no  longer  in  a  placid  mood  ;  the  wind  blew  with  more 
violence  than  seemed  necessary,  and  between  decks  lay 
twenty-four  of  the  thirty  soldiers  fast  in  the  clutches  of 
the  malady  of  the  sea. 

Phil  felt  confident  he  was  beset  with  an  illness  from 
which  he  would  never  recover,  and  Dick,  who  shared  his 
bunk,  said,  mournfully, — 

"  If  there  were  forty  towns  to  be  .sacked,  and  I  had 
known  we  would  be  delivered  up  to  such  an  attack  as  this, 
not  even  General  Pepperrell  himself  could  have  induced 
me  to  come." 


1 8  THE  BOYS  OF  1745. 

"  It  is  terrible !  "  Phil  moaned,  thinking  of  his  mother 
and  home. 

"  We  have  been  cheated  !  "  and  Dick  endeavoured  to  as- 
sume a  sitting  posture,  but  desisted  after  striking  his  head 
painfully  hard  against  the  deck-timbers.  "Is  this  the 
pleasure  excursion  that  was  pictured  .-•  Major  Storer  said 
men  ought  to  pay  for  such  a  privilege,  instead  of  expect- 
ing to  be  paid  !  I  wonder  how  much  he  thinks  would  be 
a  fair  price  for  me  to  pay  for  my  enjoyment  just  now .-' " 

Phil  made  no  reply.  He  was  conscious  only  of  the  sen- 
sations of  faintness  and  nausea,  and  did  not  dare  to  speak. 

A  sailor,  who  came  below  on  some  errand,  announced 
that  a  northeast  storm  had  sprung  up,  and  the  two  boys 
were  quite  convinced  it  could  be  nothing  less  than  a 
hurricane. 

Whether  it  was  a  storm  or  hurricane,  the  foul  weather 
continued  until  the  "  Vigilant "  entered  the  harbour  of 
Canseau,  the  fifth  day  of  April,  and  Phil  and  Dick  crept 
on  deck,  looking  like  boys  who  had  just  arisen  from  a 
fever. 

And  it  was  not  surprising  that  they  did  look  haggard 
and  worn.  During  the  entire  passage  neither  had  been 
able  to  partake  of  anything  more  nourishing  than  tea  or 
small  fragments  of  ship's  bread ;  but  hunger  or  weakness 
was  alike  forgotten  in  the  happy  relief  of  being  able  to 
walk  about. 

Dick's  countenance  fell  as  he  saw  the  small  village  of 
Canseau,  which  the  French  lately  took  from  the  English, 
but  which  had  changed  masters  once  more  when-  the  fleet 
arrived. 


VOLUNTEER  SOLDIERS.  1 9 

"  If  Louisbourg  looks  anything  like  this  settlement,  we 
shan't  be  benefited  by  looting  the  town,"  he  said,  ruefully. 
"  Except  fish,  there  is  nothing  here  worth  carrying  away. 
We  were  fools  for  coming." 

"That  may  be  true  in  your  case,  but  not  in  mine,"  Phil 
replied,  with  a  feeble  attempt  at  a  smile.  "  Each  night  I 
have  said  to  myself  that  another  sixpence  has  been  earned 
for  mother,  and  if  the  money  could  not  be  gotten  in  any 
other  way,  I  would  endure  the  suffering  over  again  for  her 
sake." 

"  Sixpences  don't  count  with  me,"  Dick  replied,  loftily. 
"  Let 's  go  on  shore  ;  I  want  to  feel  the  solid  earth  under 
my  feet  once  more." 

"  Will  it  be  allowed .'  " 

"  Who  is  here  to  stop  us .''  " 

"  Major  Storer  should  give  us  permis.sion  first." 

"  I  don't  intend  to  ask  him.  When  there  is  any  fight- 
gin  to  be  done  he  can  come  to  me  about  it ;  but  he  has  no 
authority  while  we  are  lying  here  idle." 

Phil's  idea  of  a  soldier's  duty  was  different,  and  he  re- 
fused to  lea\e  the  sloop,  ardently  though  he  desired  to 
be  on  shore. 

A  boat  lay  at  the  gangway  ;  there  was  no  guard  near  at 
hand,  and  Richard  Sanbourne,  the  son  of  his  father,  took 
possession  of  her  as  boldly  as  if  he  was  in  sole  command 
of  the  expedition. 

By  a  singular  fortune  no  one  in  authority  observed  Dick 
when  he  left  the  sloop ;  but  the  boat  was  soon  missed,  and 
in  a  short  time    not   only  the    captain,   but    Lieutenant- 


20  THE  BO  YS  OF  1745. 

Colonel  William  Vaughan,  of  the  New  Hampshire  forces, 
who  chanced  to  be  on  board  at  the  time,  knew  what  had 
been  done  by  a  private  soldier. 

The  officer  was  particularly  angry  because  such  a  breach 
of  discipline  had  been  committed  by  one  of  his  own  com- 
mand, and  a  squad  of  men  were  sent  at  once  in  search  of 
Dick. 

l*hil  was  not  called  upon  to  aid  in  capturing  the  auda- 
cious soldier,  and  congratulated  himself  on  being  spared 
the  disagreeable  duty  of  assisting  in  making  a  prisoner 
of  his  friend ;  but  before  nightfall  he  found  himself  in  a 
much  more  unpleasant  position  than  if  he  had  been  de- 
tailed as  one  of  the  searchers. 

Dick  was  on  board  again  within  an  hour  from  the  time 
he  had  left  so  unceremoniously,  and  conducted  at  once 
to  the  cabin,  where  he  remained  ten  or  fifteen  minutes. 
Then  he  was  escorted  on  deck  by  two  soldiers,  who 
guarded  him  closely  until  word  had  been  brought  to  Phil 
that  he  was  to  stand  watch  over  the  prisoner  until  further 
orders. 

For  an  instant  there  was  a  wild  idea  in  the  boy's  mind 
of  refusing  to  do  such  duty ;  Ijut,  fortunately,  he  realized 
that  by  such  a  course  he  would  not  be  aiding  his  friend, 
and  would  get  himself  into  very  serious  difficulties. 

"  There  is  no  need  of  remaining  below,"  the  sergeant 
said,  as  he  led  the  way  forward.  "  You  can  keep  him  here 
without  trouble,  and  as  soon  as  we  get  some  handcuffs 
from  the  frigate  you  will  be  relieved.  The  orders  are  to 
shoot  him  if  he  attempts  to  escape,  so  see  to  it  that  your 
gun  is  loaded  and  ready  for  use." 


VOLUNTEER  SOLDIERS.  23 

Dick  had  not  spoken  since  he  came  from  the  cabin,  but 
when  he  was  left  comparatively  alone  with  Phil,  he  said  in 
a  low,  angry  tone,  — 

"  If  these  fellows  think  they  can  treat  me  in  this 
manner  because  I  am  to  be  paid  a  sixpence  a  day,  they  '11 
soon  discover  their  mistake." 

"  But  you  are  a  soldier,  Dick,  and  as  such  must  obey 
orders,  one  of  which  is  not  to  absent  yourself  from 
quarters  without  permission." 

"Does  Bill  Vaughan  fancy  he  can  make  me  come  at  his 
beck  and  call  .■*  It  is  n't  six  months  since  he  wanted  to 
borrow  money  of  my  father,  and  here  he  is  trying  to  make 
out  I'm, his  prisoner!" 

"But  you  arc  his  prisoner,  and  he  has  the  power  to 
make  matters  very  uncomfortable  for  you,  Dick,  being  an 
officer  of  such  high  rank.  Don't  rage,  when  it  will  only 
end  in  injury  to  yourself;  but  beg  pardon  for  what  has 
been  done,  and  most  likely  nothing  more  will  come  of  your 
little  excursion." 

"  You  must  think  I  'm  a  fool  to  beg  Bill  Vaughan's 
pardon ! " 

"I  shall  surely  think  you  one  if  you  don't." 

Dick  did  not  take  kindly  to  such  advice,  and  moved  a 
few  paces  from  his  friend,  remaining  silent  several  mo- 
ments, when  he  turned  suddenly  as  he  said, — 

"Of  course  you  don't  count  on  carrying  out  the  orders 
given  by  the  sergeant." 

"What  else  can  I  do.^*" 

"Turn  your  back  when  I  want  to  slip  over  the  bow." 


24 


THE  BO  YS  OF  1745. 


"You  wouldn't  think  of  trying  to  swim  ashore?" 

"Why  not?" 

"  The  gravest  reason  is,  that  the  harbour  is  filled  with 
ice,  and  you  would  be  chilled  to  the  bone  before  swimming 
a  dozen  strokes.  Then,  again,  you  might  be  out  of  the 
frying-pan  into  the  fire  ashore,  where  it  would  be  an  easy 
matter  to  recapture  you." 


iiii;  '4V. 


"I  'm  not  so  certain  about  that.  Say,  Phil,  it  will  be 
dark  in  half  an  hour.  When  I  say  the  word  will  you  look 
aft  five  minutes  or  so?" 

'•  I  don't  dare  to  disobey  orders,  Dick." 

"  You  're  a  sneak,  that 's  what  you  are !  I  shall  go 
over,  whether  you  help  me  or  not,  and  once  we  're  back  in 
Portsmouth,  I  '11  have  a  long  score  to  settle  with  you  I  " 


VOLUNTEER   SOLDIERS.  25 

Phil  was  too  deeply  hurt  to  make  any  reply,  and  Dick 
leaned  over  the  rail,  as  if  no  longer  desirous  of  talking. 

The  sentinel  felt  quite  certain  his  friend  would  not 
attempt  to  carry  into  execution  the  threat  made,  and 
walked  slowly  to  and  fro,  wishing  most  earnestly  that  some 
other  soldier  had  been  selected  for  the  disagreeable  duty. 

The  moments  passed  until  the  sun  disappeared  in  the 
western  sky;  the  gloom  of  evening  hung  heavily  over  the 
fleet,  shutting  out  from  view  the  shore,  although  so  close 
at  hand,  and  Phil  turned  to  reason  with  the  prisoner  just 
as  the  latter  leaped  into  the  icy  water. 

For  an  instant  the  boy  was  too  much  alarmed  and 
surprised  to  make  the  least  outcry.  Even  though  his 
own  life  had  depended  upon  the  act,  he  could  not  have 
discharged  a  weapon  at  Dick. 

While  one  might  have  counted  twenty  he  remained 
silent  and  motionless,  and  then  cried  at  the  full  strength 
of  his  lungs, — 

"  Man  overboard  !     Man  overboard !  " 

A  dozen  sailors  and  soldiers  were  by  his  side  almost  as 
soon  as  the  words  had  been  uttered,  but  even  then  nothing 
could  be  seen  of  the  escaping  prisoner. 

Two  hours  later  the  boats  returned  from  searching  the 
harbour  and  shore,  and  the  report  was  that  the  labour  had 
been  in  vain. 

"  He  must  have  sunk  almost  as  soon  as  he  struck  the 
icy  water,  sir,"  the  sergeant  reported  to  the  captain.  "It 
don't  stand  to  reason  a  boy  could  swim  a  dozen  yards 
while  it  is  so  cold." 


26  THE  BOYS  OF  1745. 

Next  morning,  on  the  books  of  the  company  was  the 
following  entry : 

"April  5th,  1745.  Richard  Sanbourne,  while  under 
guard  for  disobedience  of  orders,  leaped  overboard,  and 
was  drowned." 


CHAPTER    II. 

AN     UNEXPECTED    VISITOR. 

T)HIL'S  grief  because  of  the  untimely  fate  of  Dick 
■^  Sanbourne  was  most  intense.  He  reproached  him- 
self with  being  responsible  for  the  sad  affair,  although  he 
could  not  explain  why  he  was  at  fault. 

Dick's  chances  for  escape  would  not  have  been  bet- 
tered had  the  sentinel  offered  him  every  assistance  in  his 
power,  while  there  could  be  no  question  but  that  matters 
might  have  been  readily  adjusted  had  the  prisoner  fol- 
lowed his  friend's  advice. 

The  young  recruit  had  been  guilty  of  insubordination ; 
but  on  this  expedition  that  was  not  a  very  serious  matter, 
for  the  officers  and  men  were  friends  or  acquaintances,  and 
there  was  no  very  decided  attempt  to  exact  strict  military 
obedience. 

Phil's  comrades,  on  learning  that  he  reproached  him- 
self as  having  contributed  in  some  degree  to  his  friend's 
probable  death,  used  every  effort  to  disabuse  his  mind  of 
such  an  idea,  and  the  result  was  that  he  soon  found  him- 
self the  object  of  so  much  attention  as  to  cause  positive 
embarrassment.  Twice  did  Colonel  Vaughan  call  him  into 
the  cabin  of  the  sloop  to  consider  the  matter  carefully, 
and  on  each  occasion  did  his  best  to  convince  the  young 

27 


28  THE  BOYS  OF  nJ^. 

soldier  that  he  was  in  no  wise  responsible  for  the  deplor- 
able event  ;  but  without  success. 

On  the  following  Sunday  Phil  asked  permission  to 
attend  the  services  held  by  Parson  Moody,  and  listened 
to  the  unusually  long  sermon  intently,  although  there  was 
much  which  would  ordinarily  have  distracted  his  atten- 
tion. Save  for  the  words  of  the  clergyman,  the  Sabbath 
presented  nothing  of  that  sanctity  so  marked  at  home  ; 
on  every  hand  were  troops  being  drilled,  workmen  mov- 
ing rapidly  to  and  fro,  or  little  knots  of  men  discussing 
secular  matters  with  so  much  vehemence  as  to  almost 
drown  the  preacher's  trumpet-like  tones. 

To  Phil's  disappointment,  the  good  man  made  no  ref- 
erence to  anything  which  might  give  his  troubled  heart 
relief.  The  text,  "  Thy  people  shall  be  willing  in  the  day 
of  Thy  power,'  was  used  with  reference  to  the  probable 
capture  of  the  fortified  town,  and  the  proposed  destruc- 
tion of  such  places  of  worship  as  did  not  meet  with 
Parson  Moody's  approbation. 

He  returned  to  his  quarters  more  depressed  than  ever, 
and  the  three  weeks  of  inactivity  which  elapsed  before 
the  expedition  could  proceed,  because  of  the  ice  which  yet 
blocked  the  entrance  to  the  harbour  of  Louisbourg,  only 
aided  in  increasing  his  melancholy. 

Then  came  the  day  when  anticipations  of  immediate 
battle  drove  from  his  mind  all  thoughts  not  connected 
with  a  soldier's  duties.  The  fleet  set  sail  for  Gabarus 
Bay,  and,  twenty-four  hours  later,  the  troups  were  dis- 
embarked before  the  town  which  was  to  be  captured. 


AN  UNEXPECTED    VISITOR.  29 

It  had  not  been  possible  to  surprise  the  enemy,  there- 
fore those  who  had  anticipated  a  sudden  victory  were 
forced  to  prepare  for  a  regular  siege,  in  which  raw 
recruits  were  to  try  their  metal  against  the  strongest 
fortifications  in  the  New  World,  defended  by  veterans. 

There  was  a  slight  resistance  to  the  landing ;  but  Phil 
saw  nothing  of  this  first  violence.  The  "Vigilant"  had 
not  yet  arrived  inside  the  bay  when  it  occurred,  and,  owing 
to  the  wind,  the  rattle  of  musketry  could  not  be  heard 
from  her  decks. 

During  the  twenty-four  hours  which  followed,  Phil  was 
wretched,  both  in  body  and  mind.  The  troops  were 
stationed  near  the  shore,  with  no  shelter  save  such  as 
could  be  found  amid  the  stunted  bushes,  and  the  wind, 
damp  from  its  long  journey  over  the  sea,  seemed  as  cold 
as  in  winter. 

On  the  morning  after  the  embarkation  word  was 
brought  to  Phil  that  Colonel  Vaughan  wished  to  speak 
with  him,  and  the  boy  went  at  once  to  the  small  cluster 
of  fishermen's  shanties  where  the  ofllicers  of  the  expedi- 
tion were  quartered. 

"  VVe  are  about  to  make  a  reconnoissance,  lad,  and  it  is 
my  fancy  to  have  you  with  me.  You  will  be  exposed  to 
less  danger  by  remaining  in  the  ranks,  therefore  it  is  a 
request  rather  than  a  command." 

"  I  shall  be  very  glad  to  accompany  you,  sir,"  Phil 
replied,  modestly.  "  I  expected  to  be  confronted  by 
danger  when  I  enlisted  as  a  soldier." 

"  Well  said,  lad.  See  to  it  that  you  carry  all  your 
blankets,  and  return  here  immediately." 


30  THE  BOYS  OF  1745. 

Phil's  heart  was  beating  violently  when  he  reported  for 
duty.  One  glance  at  the  apparently  impregnable  fortifi- 
cations had  been  sufficient  to  convince  him  there  would  be 
plenty  of  blood  spilled  before  victory  could  be  won  by 
either  party,  and  he  was  about  to  begin  his  portion  of  the 
struggle. 

Four  hundred  men  had  been  drawn  up  in  line,  and 
when  Colonel  Vaughan  emerged  from  the  huts,  this  body 
of  troops  was  marched  directly  toward  the  hills  which 
overlooked  the  town. 

Phil  was  not  burdened  with  arduous  duties.  He  re- 
mained near  the  commander,  and  from  time  to  time  per- 
formed certain  trifling  services.  It  appeared  very  much  as 
if  the  colonel  had  attached  the  boy  to  his  staff  as  an  act 
of  kindness,  rather  than  from  the  idea  that  he  could  be 
of  especial  benefit.  The  troops  marched  as  near  the  town 
as  was  deemed  safe,  and  there  were  ordered  to  salute  the 
enemy  with  three  cheers,  rather  an  odd  proceeding,  as 
Phil  thought.  Then,  without  further  demonstrations,  the 
command  made  a  detour  behind  the  hills  in  the  rear  of 
Grand  Battery,  which  was  situated  in  such  a  position  as  to 
command  the  entrance  to  the  harbour,  near  "  extensive 
magazines  of  naval  stores." 

The  men  understood  why  they  had  been  called  out, 
when  orders  were  given  to  destroy  all  the  property  not 
protected  by  the  guns  of  the  battery,  and  during  the 
remainder  of  the  day  Phil  witnessed  such  deeds  as  he  had 
believed  could  never  be  enacted.  Valuable  stores  were 
given  to  the  flames  ;  buildings  sacked  of  such  ammunition 


AN  UNEXPECTED    VISITOR. 


31 


as  could  readily  be  carried  away,  and  then  sacrificed,  and 
a  spirit  of  wanton  destruction  seemed  to  have  taken  pos- 
session of  all. 

It  was  a  picture  of  war  enlivened  by  no  acts  of  heroism. 

Not  until  an  hour  after  nightfall  was  the  work  finished, 
and  then  Colonel  Vaughan  believed  it  imprudent  to  return 


M 


to  the  main  army,  four  miles  distant,  lest  he  fall  into  an 
ambush. 

The  soldiers  bivouacked  near  the  ruins  of  the  buildings, 
where  the  heat  from  the  glowing  embers  tempered  the 
wind  to  the  blanketless  men,  and,  when  a  portion  of  the 
rations  brought  with  them  had  been  eaten,  each  one  dis- 
posed of  himself  for  the  night  as  best  suited  his  fancy. 

Sentinels  were  stationed,  as  a  matter  of  course,  yet 
they  were  not  so  numerous  but  that  a  large  body  of  the 
enemy  might  have  approached  unobserved ;  and  had  the 
occupants  of  the  battery  made  a  sortie  at  any  time  from 


32  THE  BOYS  OF  1745. 

midnight  until  morning,  the  surprise  must  have  been 
complete. 

Colonel  Vaughan  was  not  lodged  more  comfortably 
than  his  men.  He  laid  down  between  two  half-burned 
timbers,  at  a  point  nearest  the  enemy,  and  a  dozen  yards 
from  him  was  Phil. 

It  was  a  long  while  before  the  boy's  eyes  closed  in 
slumber,  and  then  it  seemed  as  if  he  had  but  just  fallen 
into  unconsciousness  when  a  pressure  upon  his  arm 
aroused  him. 

The  fires  were  burning  so  low  that  but  little  light 
illumined  the  darkness,  and  Phil  felt,  rather  than  saw, 
that  some  one  had  crawled  under  his  blanket  beside 
him. 

The  first  thought  was  that  a  comrade,  less  generously 
provided  with  coverings  against  the  cold,  was  taking 
advantage  of  his  belongings,  and  he  settled  down  for 
another  nap,  regardless  of  the  intruder,  when  a  voice 
whispered  in  his  ear, — 

"  Don't  you  know  me  .■'  " 

Phil  sprang  up  in  alarm,  for  he  recognized  the  voice  of 
Dick,  —  Dick  whom  he  had  firmly  believed  was  dead ;  but 
the  intruder  pulled  him  roughly  down  as  he  whispered 
fiercely,  — 

"  Keep  quiet,  or  some  of  the  sentinels  will  see  me ;  I 
don't  intend  to  give  Bill  Vaughan  a  chance  to  make  me 
prisoner  again." 

"But  where  have  you  come  from.-'  How  did  you  get 
here.''     I  thought  you  —  " 


AN  UNEXPECTED    VISITOR.  33 

■  "Believed  I  was  dead,  eh?"  And,  despite  his  danger, 
Dick  gave  vent  to  an  audible  chuckle. 

"  Every  one  supposed  you  drowned  within  a  few  mo- 
ments after  leaping  into  the  water." 

"Then  every  one  must  be  a  fool.  So  long  as  I  kept 
well  under  the  surface,  I  did  n't  suffer  from  the  cold.  It 
was  when  I  crawled  out  that  trouble  began.  .  I  thought  I 
should  freeze  to  death  " 

"How  did  you  avoid  it  .? " 

"Kept  in  motion.  Ran  the  best  I  knew  how  till  I  got 
rid  of  the  numbness,  and  you  can  fancy  I  did  n't  remain 
near  the  shore.  About  a  mile  away  I  struck  a  small  hut 
where  a  fisherman  lived,  and  there  I  got  thawed  out.  It 
cost  me  two  shillings  to  prevent  him  from  taking  me 
back,  but  I  would  n't  have  begrudged  twice  the  amount." 

"  But  you  were  then  at  Canseau,  and  now  we  are  near 
Louisbourg." 

"  You  seem  to  have  a  fairly  good  idea  of  affairs,  even 
though  you  are  serving  under  such  a  chuckle-head  as  Bill 
Vaughan.     We  are  near  Louisbourg." 

"  But  how  did  you  get  here .''" 

"The  fisherman  is  a  Frenchman.  He  didn't  care  to 
remain  at  Canseau  after  the  English  took  possession,  and 
made  all  haste  to  reach  Louisbourg.  By  the  expenditure 
of  two  shillings  more  I  was  allowed  to  come  with  him. 
The  price  was  much  too  high,  for  I  did  my  full  share  of 
work  in  running  the  boat,  and  without  my  assistance  he 
never  would  have  arrived." 

"We  were  told  the  harbour  was  blocked  with  ice." 


34  THE  BOYS  OF  1746. 

.  "  So  it  was ;  but  we  could  land  almost  anywhere  from 
our  dory,  and  once  ashore  on  this  island,  I  turned  French- 
man. I  have  been  stationed  at  the  Grand  Battery,  which 
you  passed  yesterday." 

"Then  how  does  it  happen  you  are  here  with  me." 

"  I'll  tell  you  a  big  secret,  Phil,  and  if  you  are  sharp 
you  can  turn  it  to  your  advantage.  The  battery  is  to  be 
abandoned ;  already  the  men  are  marching  out.  They  are 
cowards,  for  half  their  number  could  hold  it  against  the 
crowd  Bill  Vaughan  has  brought  here ;  but  they  won't 
listen  to  me,  and  to-morrow  you  people  can  take  posses- 
sion," 

"How  will  it  be  of  benefit  to  me  .<*  " 

"Wait  until  that  money-borrowing  Vaughan  leaves 
this  place,  and  then  take  possession  yourself.  General 
Pepperrell  will  hear  what  you  have  done,  and  cannot  fail 
to  give  a  handsome  reward,  one-half  of  which  you  must 
turn  over  to  me.  That  is  why  I  run  the  risk  to  pay  you 
a  visit  to-night.  If  you  work  this  matter  properly  there 
will  be  more  in  it  for  us  than  we  could  get  by  sacking 
Louisbourg,  even  though  we  entered  the  town  in  the 
front  ranks." 

Phil  remained  silent.  He  failed  to  understand  the 
matter  as  Dick  apparently  did.  In  case  the  battery  was 
to  be  abandoned,  he  was  not  the  one  who  should  reap  the 
benefit  of  the  discovery,  and  just  at  that  moment  it  seemed 
his  duty  to  tell  Colonel  Vaughan  all  he  had  heard. 

Dick  suspected  the  thoughts  which  were  in  his  com- 
rade's mind,  and  said,  threateningly,  — 


AN^  UNEXPECTED    VISITOR.  35 

"  Don't  think  you  can  get  the  credit  and  all  the  reward 
at  the  same  time.  I  have  put  myself  in  your  power,  so  far 
as  Bill  Vaughan  may  be  able  to  do  me  an  injury,  but 
pledge  my  word  that  you  '11  never  live  to  see  Portsmouth 
again  if  you  try  to  play  me  false." 

"I  haven't  any  idea  of  trying  to  play  you  or  any  one 
false,"  Phil  replied,  indignantly.  "  I  did  n't  ask  you  to 
come  with  the  story  of  the  abandonment  of  the  battery, 
and  most  likely  the  men  will  discover  what  has  been  done 
as  soon  as  daybreak.  My  getting  a  reward  for  reporting 
what  another  could  see  as  well  as  I  is  nonsense." 

"  It 's  sound  common  sense  if  you  have  courage  enough 
to  carry  it  out  properly.  Manage  to  loiter  behind  when 
the  troops  leave,  and  then  go  boldly  into  the  works ;  I  '11 
see  to  it  that  a  messenger  is  at  hand  to  carry  the  joyful 
tidings,  and  you  can  hold  the  place  alone  until  men  are 
sent  from  headquarters  to  take  possession.  You  will 
make  your  name  famous;  I  shall  be  revenged  on  Bill 
Vaughan,  for  of  course  he  will  be  reprimanded  for  not 
discovering  such  a  valuable  piece  of  news,  and  both  of  us 
will  make  money  out  of  the  transaction." 

"  Look  here,  Dick,"  Phil  said,  suddenly,  as  a  plan  for 
changing  the  subject  of  the  conversation  occurred  to  him ; 
"  do  you  know  what  risks  you  have  taken  in  coming  here 
with  a  scheme  to  make  a  few  shillings  ? " 

"  You  mean  that  Vaughan  may  get  hold  of  me .-' " 

"  That  is  also  possible ;  but  it  may  be  a  very  serious 
matter  so  far  as  your  new  friends  are  concerned.  If  they 
should  learn  that  you  have  been  here,  visiting  the  enemy. 


36  THE  BO  YS  OF  1745. 

can't  you  see  what  would  happen  ?  You  would  be  con- 
sidered a  spy,  and  hanged  at  the  shortest  notice.  This  is 
war,  instead  of  a  pleasure  excursion,  as  we  were  led  to 
believe,  and  when  a  man  or  a  boy  either,  for  that  matter, 
is  suspected  of  giving  information  to  the  enemy,  the  end 
comes  cruelly  quick." 

"I  have  n't  given  any  information,"  Dick  replied,  with 
an  effort  to  speak  calmly,  but  his  friend  understood  that 
he  was  thoroughly  frightened. 

"  That  is  true ;  but  if  the  French  should  learn  of  this 
visit,  could  you  persuade  them  that  such  was  the  fact }  " 

"  They  've  got  more  sense  than  the  men  you  are 
serving." 

"  That  would  n't  prevent  them  from  dealing  in  the  usual 
manner  with  a  spy.  As  the  matter  now  stands,  you  are 
liable  to  be  arrested  and  shot  by  the  English  for  having  de- 
serted in  the  face  of  the  enemy,  or  hung  by  the  French." 

"  As  you  figure  it,  I  might  as  well  consider  myself  dead 
already,"  Dick  replied,  grimly,  but  his  voice  trembled  per- 
pcetibly,  despite  his  attempts  to  render  it  steady. 

"  I  believe  you  will  soon  come  to  some  violent  end 
unless  you  take  a  sharp  turn  at  once.  Why  not  give 
yourself  up  to  Colonel  Vaughan  now  "^  I  am  certain 
everything  can  be  made  right,  more  especially  since  you 
bring  such  good  news,  and  it  will  be  plain  sailing  in  the 
future." 

"  Do  you  think  I  would  let  him  get  hold  of  me  again  .^ " 

"  You  must  forget  that  he  is  a  townsman  whom  you 
have  known  well,  and  look  upon  him  only  as  an  oflficer  in 
the  colonial  forces." 


AN-  UNEXPECTED    VISITOR.  $y 

"  I  '11  look  upon  him  for  just  what  he  is,  and  nothing 
more.  It  is  easy  to  see  that  you  are  trying  to  curry  favour 
with  the  villain,  and  I  may  as  well  go  back.  Remember 
this,  Phil  Towle,  if  you  do  not  come  into  my  scheme 
for  getting  a  reward  out  of  General  Pepper rell,  you 
are  to  hold  your  tongue  regarding  what  I  have  told  you." 

"  I  don't  know  what  I  ought  to  do,"  Phil  replied,  in  a 
tone  of  perplexity. 

"  I  do,  and  if  you  try  to  get  the  best  of  me  there  '11  be 
more  trouble  for  you  than  there  is  in  this  whole  business 
of  attempting  to  capture  Louisbourg.  Don't  dare  so 
much  as  dream  of  what  I  have  said  unless  you  are  will- 
ing to  do  exactly  as  I  direct.  I  am  going  now,  but  it  will 
be  a  simple  matter  to  get  at  you  if  there  is  any  necessity 
for  so  doing." 

Dick  began  to  crawl  out  of  the  blankets  without  rising, 
and  Phil,  paying  no  attention  to  the  threat,  said,  implor- 
ingly, — 

"  Don't  run  such  a  risk,  Dick !  Stay  here,  and  I  will  do 
my  best  to  get  you  out  of  the  scrape  in  which  you  placed 
yourself  by  going  on  shore  without  permission." 

"  You  '11  do  nothing  unless  I  say  the  word,  remember 
that !  If  you  give  the  slightest  hint  to  Bill  Vaughan  of 
what  I  told  you —  " 

Dick  did  not  conclude  the  threat,  probably  believing  it 
would  be  more  terrifying  if  incomplete,  and  almost  before 
Phil  was  aware  that  he  had  started,  the  visitor  was  lost  to 
view  in  the  darkness. 


CHAPTER    III. 

A    CHANCE    SHOT. 

THERE  was  no  possibility  that  Philip  Towle,  private, 
in  the  colonial  forces  from  New  Hampshire,  would 
be  able  to  sleep  very  much  on  this  night  after  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  enemy's  naval  stores. 

That  which  the  visitor  had  told  him  was  sufficient  to 
drive  from  his  mind  all  thoughts  of  everything  save  the 
proper  course  to  be  pursued. 

It  appeared  as  if  his  duty  as  a  soldier  demanded  that 
he  give  the  startling  information  to  Colonel  Vaughan  at 
once  ;  but  he  was  deterred  by  the  thought  that  it  would 
also  be  necessary  to  explain  how  he  learned  the  news,  in 
which  case  Dick's  position  would  become  more  serious 
than  it  already  was. 

Had  it  been  a  secret,  the  keeping  of  which  might  have 
involved  possible  loss  of  life,  he  would  not  have  hesitated  ; 
but  it  was  only  a  question  of  taking  possession  of  the  bat- 
tery a  few  hours  sooner  or  later,  and  he  finally  decided 
there  could  be  no  harm  in  allowing  matters  to  remain  as 
they  were. 

Never  for  an  instant  did  he  entertain  the  idea  of  trying 
to  gain  a  reward,  as  Dick  had  suggested. 

Not  once  did  he  close  his  eyes  in  sleep,  and  when  the 

38 


A    CHANCE   SHOT.  4 1 

sun  rose  he  was  the  first  member  of  the  party  ready  for 
the  duties  of  the  day. 

Eagerly  he  gazed  toward  that  splendid  fortification 
known  as  the  Grand  Battery  instantly  it  was  sufficiently 
light  to  see  surrounding  objects,  and  there  was  certainly 
good  reason  to  believe  Dick  had  told  nothing  more  than 
the  truth. 

Not  a  man  could  be  seen  in  or  about  the  works,  while 
on  the  previous  afternoon  it  had  been  possible  to  distin- 
guish the  sentinels  as  they  paced  to  and  fro. 

Colonel  Vaughan's  first  act  after  awakening  was  to  send 
all  the  troops,  save  a  dozen  men,  back  to  the  shore,  since 
there  was  apparently  nothing  more  to  be  done  in  that 
vicinity. 

With  the  small  squad  the  colonel  ate  breakfast,  chat- 
ting cheerily  with  Phil,  meanwhile,  on  indifferent  topics, 
and  not  until  fully  half  an  hour  had  elapsed  did  he  show 
any  inclination  to  retrace  his  steps. 

It  seemed  strange  to  Phil  that  not  a  single  member  of 
the  party  took  notice  of  the  fact  that  the  enemy's  senti- 
nels could  no  longer  be  seen,  and  in  the  hope  that  some 
one  might  note  the  works  more  particularly,  he  asked 
several  questions  concerning  them. 

"  That  battery  will  do  us  a  power  of  harm  before  we 
succeed  in  reducing  it,"  the  colonel  replied,  without  so 
much  as  glancing  in  the  direction  Phil  most  desired.  "  It 
is  exceptionally  strong,  and  the  loss  of  life  must  neces- 
sarily be  great  when  we  finally  assault  it,  as  we  shall  be 
forced  to  do  before  the  main  works  can  be  captured." 


42  THE  BO  YS  OF  1745. 

Then  Vaughan  talked  with  some  of  the  elder  members 
of  the  party  as  to  the  route  they  would  take  in  returning 
to  the  shore,  and  Phil  realized  he  must  speak  more  plainly 
if  the  evacuation  was  to  be  discovered. 

"  Colonel,"  he  cried,  suddenly,  as  if  his  attention  had 
but  just  been  attracted  to  the  subject,  "isn't  it  strange 
that  we  can't  see  any  sentinels  this  morning?  They  were 
in  full  view  last  night." 

This  proved  sufficient. 

All  gazed  intently  at  the  frowning  works,  and  after 
some  discussion,  the  little  party  moved  yet  nearer. 

"  Their  flag  is  no  longer  flying ! "  Colonel  Vaughan 
exclaimed.  "  It  does  n't  seem  possible  such  a  strong  post 
could  be  abandoned,  and  yet  it  surely  has  that  appear- 
ance." 

It  was  possible  there  might  be  in  this  apparent  evac- 
uation an  ambush  planned,  and  instead  of  venturing 
boldly  inside,  the  colonel  hired  an  Indian  from  Cape  Cod, 
who  had  accompanied  the  troop  as  guide,  to  make  an 
examination. 

In  less  than  five  minutes  after  the  Indian  had  crept 
through  one  of  the  embrasures,  the  gate  was  thrown  open, 
and  the  small  force  took  possession  of  the  place  which  it 
had  been  supposed  would  cost  many  lives  in  the  taking. 

"  Can  you  make  your  way  back  to  General  Pepperrell's 
headquarters  .■* "  Colonel  Vaughan  asked  Phil,  shortly  after 
they  were  inside  the  works. 

"  I  do  not  think  I  should  have  any  difficulty  in  doing 
so,  sir." 


A    CHANCE  SHOT.  45 

"Then  carry  him  a  message,  and  I  venture  to  say  he 
will  receive  no  visitor  to-day  who  brings  better  news." 

He  wrote  hurriedly  the  following  v/ords  : 

"  May  it  please  your  honour  to  be  informed  that  by  the 
grace  of  God,  and  the  courage  of  thirteen  men,  I  entered 
the  royal  battery  about  nine  o'clock,  and  am  waiting  for 
reenforcement  and  a  flag." 

Phil  started  off  at  full  speed,  giving  no  heed  to  the 
brambles  which  tore  his  clothes  and  scratched  his  face  as 
he  pressed  through  the  tangled  underbrush.  His  only 
thought  was  to  reach  headquarters  as  soon  as  possible, 
that  a  sufficient  number  of  men  to  hold  the  battery  might 
be  sent  before  the  enemy  could  discover  how  needlessly 
they  had  been  alarmed. 

He  arrived  in  good  season,  and  when  admitted  to 
General  Pepperrell's  presence  was  breathing  heavily  from 
the  fatigue  of  the  rapid  and  painful  journey. 

"  You  bring  brave  news,  young  sir,"  the  general  said, 
in  a  tone  of  glad  surprise,  after  reading  the  brief  note. 
"  I  judge  you  have  lost  no  time  on  the  way." 

"  It  was  necessary  I  should  get  here  quickly,  sir,  for 
men  are  needed  to  hold  the  works." 

"  They  shall  be  sent  without  delay,  and  here  is  some- 
thing which  will  keep  you  in  remembrance  of  this  day's 
fortunate  happenings." 

The  general  handed  Phil  two  gold  coins,  a  greater 
amount  of  money  than  the  boy  had  ever  seen  at  one  time 
before,  and  was  about  to  make  some  further  remark 
when  Colonel  Messerve  entered,  looking  thoroughly  mys- 
tified, as  he  cried, — 


46  THE  BOYS  OF  17^5. 

"  Four  boats  loaded  with  men  have  left  the  town, 
evidently  bound  in  the  direction  of  the  Grand  Battery! 
Vaughan  must  be  in  that  vicinity  ! " 

Instantly  all  was  confusion  ;  orders  were  given  hur- 
riedly, rapidly  executed,  and  it  seemed  to  Phil  he  had  not 
been  in  camp  five  minutes  when  two  hundred  men  were 
on  the  double-quick  to  reenforce  their  comrades. 

From  where  he  stood,  the  boy  could  see  Vaughan  and 
his  small  troop  drawn  up  in  line  on  the  beach  to  oppose 
the  intended  landing,  and  he  had  the  satisfaction  of  watch- 
ing the  brave  fellows  hold  the  enemy  in  check  until  those 
who  had  been  sent  in  support  arrived. 

Colonel  Vaughan  returned  to  headquarters  after  Brig- 
adier Waldo  and  his  regiment  were  in  peaceful  possession 
of  the  battery,  and  Phil  presented  himself  for  duty. 

"  It  will  be  a  long  while,  now  the  city  is  invested, 
before  we  shall  see  any  more  fighting,  so  set  about  put- 
ting up  something  which  will  serve  you  as  a  camp.  It 
has  been  ordered  that  all  the  spare  sails  in  the  fleet  be 
sent  ashore,  with  which  to  make  tents ;  but  I  fancy  a  boy 
like  you  can  soon  build  a  better  shelter  than  they  will 
form.  You  may  report  to  your  captain  that  you  are  on 
detached  duty  under  me,  and  after  the  hut  is  built,  let  me 
know." 

By  this  means  Phil  escaped  the  heavy  work  of  aiding  in 
the  landing  of  the  guns  and  stores,  which  was  most  ar- 
duous as  well  as  dangerous,  and  before  nightfall  he  had 
constructed  a  shanty  which  would  protect  him  from  the 
wind,  if  not  the  rain. 


A    CHANCE   SHOT.  47 

It  was  built  of  spruce  boughs,  with  turf  laid  around  the 
sides,  and  was  by  no  means  the  poorest  of  the  many  rude 
substitutes  for  camps  to  be  seen  on  either  side  of  the 
brook  running  from  the  hills  a  couple  of  miles  southwest 
of  the  town. 

After  the  transports  had  been  unladen  came  the  labour 
of  dragging  cannon  to  the  spot  selected  for  the  first 
battery,  on  Green  Hill,  two  miles  from  where  the  stores 
were  landed,  and  this  labour  was  excessive,  as  Phil  had 
ample  opportunity  to  learn. 

While  there  was  nothing  to  be  done  save  to  make  prep- 
arations for  bombarding  the  town,  it  was  not  reasonable 
that  Colonel  Vaughan  would  keep  the  boy  on  detached 
duty  very  long,  therefore  he  was  forced  to  do  his  share  of 
the  fatiguing  work. 

During  two  weeks  he  aided  in  dragging  the  heavy 
pieces  of  ordnance  across  marshy  ground,  so  soft  that  it 
was  necessary  to  place  them  on  sledges  lest  they  should 
sink  beyond  recovery,  and  to  each  of  these  rude  vehicles 
two  hundred  soldiers  were  harnessed  with  breast-straps 
and  rope  traces. 

More  than  once  did  it  seem  to  Phil  as  if  he  could  no 
longer  perform  his  share  of  the  task,  so  nearly  was  he 
exhausted  ;  but  the  thought  that  the  gold  presented  by 
General  Pepperrell  was  sufficient  in  amount  to  relieve  his 
mother  of  her  most  pressing  wants  served  to  animate 
him,  despite  the  monotony  and  brutish  nature  of  the 
labour. 

Then,  when  Phil  was  thoroughly  weary  with  this  kind 


48  THE  BOYS  OF  1745. 

of  a  soldier's  life,  came  the  welcome  summons  to  present 
himself  at  headquarters,  where  he  found  a  squad  of  men 
drawn  up  preparatory  to  making  a  reconnoissance  under 
the  lead  of  Colonel  Vaughan,  and  he  soon  learned  he  was 
to  accompany  the  party. 

The  purpose  of  the  movement  was  to  ascertain  the 
most  advantageous  spot  at  which  an  assault  could  be 
made. 

From  the  manner  in  which  the  leader  set  about  the 
work,  it  could  be  understood  that  he  hoped  something 
more  might  be  done  than  simply  surveying  the  land,  for 
no  man  "enjoyed"  a  battle  better  than  did  the  Lieutenant 
Colonel  of  the  New  Hampshire  forces,  and  a  skirmish  did 
not  come  amiss,  to  his  mind,  when  nothing  more  serious 
was  possible. 

Instead  of  proceeding  directly  to  the  spot  where  Gen- 
eral Pepperrell  believed  artillery  could  be  used  to  the  best 
advantage,  a  long  d^totir  was  made,  which  brought  the 
squad  on  the  high  land  north  of  the  city,  where  was  a 
heavy  growth  of  timber  to  screen  them  from  view. 

Once  in  this  place,  scrutinizing  the  town  he  hoped 
would  soon  be  captured,  Colonel  Vaughan  gave  little 
heed  to  his  men,  so  intent  was  he  in  gaining  all  the 
information  possible  relative  to  the  movements  of  the 
enemy,  and  the  soldiers  were  allowed  to  ramble  here  and 
there  at  will,  the  only  restriction  being  that  they  keep 
within  hailing  distance  of  each  other. 

Phil  and  the  colonel  were  in  a  dense  clump  of  spruce 
trees,  and  the  latter  was  hewing  off  some  of  the  branches 


A    CHANCE   SHOT. 


49 


with  his  sword,  in  order  to  gain  a  better  view  of  the 
beleaguered  town,  when  a  single  report  rang  out,  sharp 
and  distinct,  as  a  bullet  cut  the  skin  on  the  officer's   face. 

For  an  instant  both  the  colonel  and  Phil  thought  the 
former  was  seriously  wounded,  but  when  the  trifling 
nature  of  the  hurt  was  discovered,  anger  succeeded  fear. 

"Whoever  discharged  that  musket  intended  to  kill 
me  ! ' '  Colonel  Vaughan  exclaimed,  sharply.  "  Hello  ! 
Where  are  you,  men  .-'  "  i^ 

The  soldiers,  having 
heard  the  report  and  fancy- 
ing an  attack  was  being 
made,  were  already  com- 
ing at  full  speed  toward 
their  commander,  and  the 
words  had  hardly  been 
spoken  before  all  the  squad 
were  within  the  thicket. 

"Did  any  of  you  dis- 
charge a  musket  just  now.''"  Each  denied  in  turn  hav- 
ing done  anything  of  the  kind,  and  showed  his  loaded 
gun  in  proof  of  the  statement. 

"  It  isn't  possible  one  of  the  enemy  can  be  outside  the 
city,  for  this  portion  of  the  island  has  been  traversed 
many  times  by  our  soldiers  since  we  landed,"  the  officer 
said,  in  a  low  tone,  to  Phil.  "There  's  mischief  afoot,  and 
we  must  know  what  it  is.  You  are  to  stay  here  with  the 
men,  to  make  certain  they  do  not  leave  the  place,  and  I 
will  do  a  little  reconnoitring  on  my  own  account." 


50  THE  BOYS  OF  1745. 

"You  surely  don't  intend  to  go  alone!"  Phil  cried,  in 
alarm. 

"I  shall  be  safer  than  with  companions.  Do  as  I  have 
bidden,  and  take  good  care  to  keep  a  sharp  watch  on  all 
the  men." 

The  colonel  disappeared  amid  the  underbrush  as  he 
ceased  speaking,  and  Phil  tried  in  vain  to  fancy  who  could 
have  any  cause  of  enmity  against  so  kind  an  officer. 

Just  once  did  his  thoughts  wander  to  Dick  Sanbourne, 
but  he  dismissed  the  subject  immediately,  for  he  had  good 
reason  to  believe  that  young  gentleman  was  secure  behind 
the  walls  of  the  city. 

Colonel  Vaughan  was  absent  half  an  hour,  and  when  he 
returned,  the  men  were  ordered  back  to  headquarters, 
although  the  purpose  for  which  they  came  out  had  not 
been  accomplished. 

Phil  asked  no  questions  relative  to  what  might  have 
been  discovered ;  but  before  the  march  had  come  to  an 
end,  the  colonel  said,  in  a  low  tone,  as  if  fearful  his  words 
would  be  overheard  by  those  in  the  rear, — 

"  Do  you  want  to  know  what  I  saw  a  short  distance 
from  where  we  were  standing  when  that  shot  was  fired  }  " 

"  I  do,  unless  you  wish  to  keep  it  a  secret." 

"  Not  from  you,  lad  ;  for  I  expect  you  will  aid  me  in 
solving  the  mystery.  The  footprints  of  a  man  were  plain 
upon  the  turf,  and  I  even  saw  where  he  rested  his  gun  to 
take  aim.  That  would  n't  have  been  so  very  surprising, 
since  we  know  perfectly  well  some  one  was  there,  but  I 
believe  it  was  a  member  of  our  own  regiment !  " 


A    CHANCE   SHOT.  53 

"  Why  do  you  think  so,  sir  ?  "  Phil  asked,  in  astonishment. 

"  Because  of  the  footprints.  I  could  almost  swear  the 
boots  which  made  them  came  from  old  Tyson's  shop. 
There  is  n't  a  cobbler  in  the  colonies,  and  it  goes  without 
saying  that  there  are  none  in  France  who  cuts  such  a 
peculiar  sole  ;  the  toe  is  the  widest  part  of  it." 

"  But  who  among  our  men  would  try  to  kill  you,  sir  }  " 

"  That  is  exactly  what  I  propose  to  find  out,  if  possible. 
When  we  arrive  at  headquarters  you  are  to  go  directly  to 
your  shanty,  and  wait  until  I  come,  which  will  probably 
not  be  till  late  in  the  evening." 

After  giving  this  order  the  colonel  relapsed  into  a  silence 
which  was  not  broken  until  the  command  was  dismissed 
in  front  of  the  hut  occupied  by  General  Pepperrell. 

Phil  did  as  he  had  been  bidden,  and^  there  remained, 
listening  to  the  roaring  of  the  guns  from  the  advanced 
battery,  wishing  he  was  at  liberty  to  go  where  he  could 
see  what  execution  was  being  done. 

At  sunset  no  word  had  been  received  from  the  colonel, 
and  the  boy  built  a  small  fire  in  front  of  the  hut  with 
which  to  cook  the  meal  that  made  up  his  portion  of  the 
day's  rations. 

The  cannon  were  still  being  worked,  and  from  time  to 
time  squads  of  men  passed  him  on  their  way  to  watch  the 
gunners.  More  than  one  invited  Phil  to  follow,  but  he 
shook  his  head.  The  order  was  to  remain  in  his  camp, 
and  he  did  not  intend  to  disobey,  whatever  might  be  the 
attraction  at  the  front. 

The  evening  passed,  and  yet  no  word  from  the  colonel. 


54  THE  BOYS  OF  1746. 

One  by  one  the  men  off  duty  sought  the  shelter  of  their 
poor  apologies  for  tents,  until  not  a  person  was  to  be  seen 
within  Phil's  range  of  vision. 

He  piled  his  camp-fire  high  with  wood,  and  laid  down  in 
front  of  it.  The  earth  no  longer  trembled  under  the  de- 
tonations of  the  cannon  ;  the  sighing  of  the  wind  could 
be  heard  from  among  the  trees,  and  the  monotonous  mur- 
mur of  the  surf  wooed  the  tired  boy  to  slumber. 

Then  came  a  time  when  he  fancied  he  heard  in  a  dream 
his  own  name  called  softly,  but  not  until  it  had  been  re- 
peated several  times  did  he  realize  that  it  was  a  reality, 
and  not  the  result  of  a  vision. 

Once  he  understood  this  fact,  he  sprang  to  his  feet, 
rubbing  his  eyes  to  free  them  from  the  mist  of  slumber, 
but  there  was  no  person  to  be  seen. 

"  It  must  have  been  a  dream  after  all,  and  yet  it  sounded 
wonderfully  distinct,"  he  muttered  to  himself;  and  then, 
observing  that  the  fire  was  burning  low,  he  began  collect- 
ing fuel  with  which  to  replenish  it,  when  from  his  hut  came 
a  hoarse  whisper  : 

"  Keep  the  flame  down  !  Can't  you  understand  that  I 
don't  want  to  be  seen  here  } " 

Phil's  surprise  was  so  great  as  to  amount  almost  to  be 
wilderment,  for  he  recognized  Dick  Sanbourne's  voice. 

"  Come  in,  can't  you  .''  "  the  invisible  speaker  added,  in  a 
tone  of  irritation.      "  I  don't  propose  to  lay  around   here 
all  night  while  your  wits  are  wool-gathering." 
.   Phil  entered  the  shanty,  by  no  means   pleased  to   meet 
his  old  friend  again. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

A    CONFESSION. 

T~\ICK  acted  as  if  he  had  good  cause  for  complaint 
-*-^  because  Phil  did  not  give  him  a  hearty  greeting, 
and  said  in  an  injured  tone,  — 

"You  don't  seem  very  glad  to  see  me! " 

"  I  am  not." 

"  You  're  getting  stuck  up  because  Bill  Vaughan  has 
taken  you  under  his  wing;  that  's  what 's  the  matter." 

"  I  did  n't  know  he  had  « taken  me  under  his  wing,'  as 
you  call  it.      I  have  tried  to  do  my  duty — " 

"  For  which  you  are  to  get  nearly  a  sixpence  a  day,  if 
the  colony  can  raise  money  enough  to  pay  the  men  who 
have  enlisted,"  Dick  interrupted,  with  a  sneer. 

"  Yes,  that  was  the  amount  agreed  upon,  and  we  have 
no  right  to  find  fault.  There  has  been  no  change  in  the 
price  since  the  day  on  which  we  enlisted,  and  then  it 
seemed  sufficient." 

"  So  it  would  have  been  had  Storer's  stories  turned  out 
true  ;  we  were  to  come  on  a  pleasure  excursion,  and  be 
paid  for  it.  Instead,  we  were  sent  down  here  to  be 
killed." 

"There  hasn't  been  any  very  great  slaughter  thus  far." 

"  Wait  till  the  city  is  assaulted,  and  then  you  will  see 
the  blood  run.     Louisbourg  is  fortified  so  strongly  that  ten 

55 


$6  THE  BOYS  OF  1745. 

times  the  number  of  men  at  Pepperrell's  command  couldn't 
force  an  entrance." 

"  I  admit  there  is  good  reason  for  you  to  speak  so 
positively ;  but  tell  me  why  you  are  not  behind  the  walls 
now  ?     Did  the  French  suspect  you  ?  " 

"  I  never  went  back  to  find  out.  You  said  so  much 
about  what  might  be  done,  I  concluded  it  was  n't  safe." 

"  And  it  would  have  been  very  dangerous,  I  firmly 
believe.  If  suspicion  had  arisen  that  you  had  visited  our 
men  just  before  the  battery  was  abandoned,  it  would  have 
been  a  short  shrift  for  you." 

"  Most  likely  I  should  have  pulled  through  all  right ;  but 
I  am  willing  to  confess  you  frightened^  me,  and  I  steered 
clear  of  both  parties  until  hunger  has  driven  me  here." 

"Where  have  you  been  staying  .-'" 

"  In  the  woods." 

"  You  might  have  been  taken  by  some  of  our  men." 

"  It 's  easy  to  keep  clear  of  them.  I  got  along  all 
right  while  my  ammunition  held  out ;  but  now  that  is 
gone  I  am  on  precious  short  allowance.  Instead  of  ask- 
ing so  many  questions,  why  not  give  me  something  to 
eat.-'     I  am  nearly  starved." 

Phil  believed,  from  the  visitor's  tone,  that  he  was 
speaking  the  truth,  and  his  sympathies  were  aroused. 

The  only  food  he  had  was  a  portion  of  the  hasty- 
pudding  made  that  evening;  but  he  set  it  before  Dick, 
who  ate  as  if  he  was  indeed  nearly  famished. 

"  If  I  had  known  there  was  a  chance  you  would  come, 
I  'd   saved   more  ;   but,   supposing  you  safe  inside  Loui.s- 


A    CONFESSION.  57 

bourg,  the  possibility  that  others  might  need  my  rations 
never  occurred  to  me.  Say,  Dick,  do  you  realize  that 
each  day  makes  your  case  worse?" 

"In  what  way  ?"  the  visitor  asked,  speaking  indistinctly, 
because  his  mouth  was  so  full  of  pudding. 

"  After  it  is  known  you  have  been  hanging  around  so 
long  in  the  enemy's  service,  there  will  be  less  sympathy 
felt  when  you  ask  for  pardon." 

"  Do  you  think  I  'm  going  to  do  anything  of  that  kind, 
especially  to  Bill  Vaughan.-'" 

"  But  you  must,  otherwise  how  will  you  get  home .-'  " 
"  I  can  work  that  part  of  it  all  right,"  was  the  confident 
reply. 

"  How .? " 

"  There  '11  soon  be  a  vessel  sailing  for  Boston,  and  I  shall 
smuggle  myself  on  board.     The  voyage  won't  be  so  long 
but  that  I  can  remain  stowed  away  until  she  arrives." 
"But  even  then  you  won't  dare  go  to  Portsmouth." 
"Wouldn't  \}     Just  give  me  the  chance,  that's  all!" 
"  But  don't  you  fear  being  arrested  as  a  deserter  } " 
"  Bill  Vaughan  won't  talk  so  loud  when  we  are  home 
again.      My  father  can  fix  everything,  once  I  am  there." 

Phil  believed  the  crime  of  desertion  would  not  be 
passed  over  so  readily,  even  though  Dick's  father  was 
reputed  to  be  a  wealthy  man  ;  but  he  forbore  from  press- 
ing the  matter  further.  It  could  easily  be  seen  that  the 
visitor  fancied  anything  he  might  do  could  be  atoned  for 
with  money,  and  it  would  be  useless  to  make  an  attempt 
to  convince  him  to  the  contrary. 


58  THE  BOYS  OF  1745. 

Dick  ate  that  which  had  been  set  before  him,  and  then 
looked  around  hungrily  for  more. 

"  That  was  all  I  had,"  Phil  said,  interpreting  the  look. 
"  If  you  will  wait,  perhaps  I  can  borrow  something  from 
the  man  who  is  encamped  close  at  hand." 

"Don't  try  it!"  Dick  said,  sharply,  when  Phil  made  a 
motion  to  leave  the  shanty.  "  I  have  n't  got  any  too 
much  confidence  in  you,  and  don't  propose  that  word  shall 
be  sent  to  Bill  Vaughan." 

"  I  didn't  betray  you  before,  therefore  why  should  I  do 
so  now .'' " 

"  I  won't  give  you  a  chance  ;  there  's  no  knowing  what 
you  might  do  for  the  sake  of  a  pouiyJ  or  two  out  of  my 
capture." 

"  I  am  not  so  fond  of  money  as  that.  If  it  was  really 
my  duty  to  tell  of  your  being  on  the  island,  I  should  do  it 
at  all  hazards." 

"You're  a  canting  hypocrite — "  Dick  checked  him- 
self suddenly,  as  if  he  had  spoken  more  plainly  than  was 
his  intention,  and  added,  in  a  coaxing  tone,  "Look  here, 
Phil,  we  've  always  been  friends,  and  you  know  I  'm  willing 
to  do  you  a  good  turn  at  any  time,  so  now  do  one  for 
me  when  I  am  in  such  trouble." 

"  What  do  you  want  1 " 

"  Powder  and  ball.  With  plenty  of  ammunition,  I  can 
shoot  game  enough  to  keep  me  alive  until  a  vessel  sails 
for  Boston." 

"  I  have  n't  got  very  much,"  and  Phil  shook  his  powder- 
horn. 


A    CONFESSION. 


59 


"  It  '11  do  till  I  come  again,"  Dick  said,  as  he  stretched 
out  his  hand  for  the  horn.  "  If  I  had  n't  wasted  that  shot 
this  afternoon  I  need  n't  have  come  to-night,  and,  perhaps, 
by  a  lucky  turn,  might  have  found  a  chance  to  leave  this 
place  without  your  knowing  anything  about  it." 

Fhil  was  on  the  point  of  handing  the  powder  to  his 
companion  when  the  latter  spoke  ;  but  suddenly  he  drew 


it  back  as  he  looked  intently  at  Dick,  his  face  paling  be- 
cause of  his  newly-aroused  suspicions. 

"  What  is  the  matter  .-* "  the  visitor  asked,  sharply, 
alarmed  at  the  change  which  had  come  over  his  friend. 
"  What  is  the  matter .-'  Why  don't  you  speak,  instead  of 
staring  in  that  way  }  " 

"  Dick  Sanbourne,"  Phil  said,  in  a  low,  accusing  tone, 
"it  was  you  who  tried  to  shoot  Colonel  Vaughan  this 
afternoon !  " 

For  an  instant  Dick  acted  as  if  about  to  deny  the  accu- 
sation, and  then  spoke  angrily  : 


6o  THE  BO  YS  OF  1745. 

"  Well,  what  if  it  was  ?     Is  that  any  business  of  yours  ?  " 

"  It  certainly  is.  My  duty  is  to  protect,  or  assist  in 
doing  so,  our  officers,  and  —  " 

"  I  suppose  you  're  running  this  whole  war,  aint  you  ? 
You  protect  the  officers  !  You  'd  better  go  back  to  your 
mother,  where  you  belong,  and  not  play  at  being  a  soldier 
any  longer.  I  shall  settle  my  score  with  Bill  Vaughan 
before  I  leave  here,  and  you  can't  prevent  me,  mighty  as 
you  act  now." 

"  I  shall  do  my  best,"  Phil  replied,  gravely,  as  he  at- 
tempted to  rise  to  his  feet. 

Dick,  who  had  been  seated  between  Phil  and  the  en- 
trance to  the  shanty,  sprang  to  his  feet  before  the  latter 
could  change  his  position,  and,  pushing  him  back  with  one 
hand,  twisted  the  powder-horn  from  his  grasp  with  the 
other. 

Then,  raising  his  musket  as  a  club,  he  said  in  a  guarded 
tone,  — 

*'  Make  one  attempt  to  give  an  alarm,  and  I  will  strike 
you  down !  I  don't  intend  to  be  drawn  over  the  coals 
when  a  blow  will  settle  it  all !     Give  me  that  !  " 

Before  Phil  had  fairly  recovered  from  the  surprise 
caused  by  the  sudden  change  in  his  former  friend,  the 
latter  made  a  clutch  at  the  pouch  containing  bullets, 
which  was  on  the  ground  near  the  bed  of  pine  boughs. 

"  Now  I  've  got  all  I  need,  and  can  take  care  of  myself. 
I  know  this  island  better  than  any  of  these  make-believe 
soldiers,  for  I  've  been  all  over  it,  so  it  won't  make  any 
difference  if  you  do  raise  an  alarm.  None  of  your  crowd 
can  catch  me,  especially  after  dark." 


A    CONFESSION.  6 1 

Phil  was  not  disposed  to  let  the  boy  go  to  his  own  de- 
struction without  making  one  more  effort  to  prevent  it 
and  he  said,  in  a  kindly  tone,  — 

"  Stop,  Dick,  and  think  of  what  you  are  doing  !  It  is 
a  mistake  to  believe  your  father  can  smooth  matters  over, 
and  by  defying  the  whole  colonial  army  in  that  way,  you 
cannot  fail  to  make  an  outlaw  of  yourself.  There  is  time 
even  now  to  take  a  different  course." 

"  Yes,  after  you  know  I  shot  at  Bill  Vaughan  !  " 

"  Suppose  I  promise  never  to  tell  what  you  have  said } " 

"  It  won't  be  safe  to  repeat  the  least  word,  remember 
that !  " 

"  It  is  my  duty,  and  I  must  tell  everything  to-night, 
unless  you  are  willing  to  give  yourself  up.  I  feel  certain 
matters  may  be  arranged  now,  if  nothing  is  known  of  the 
shooting,  and  you  can  take  your  proper  place  with  us  once 
more." 

"  I  suppose  you  think  you  're  precious  good,  eh  }  Try- 
ing to  play  the  mighty  over  me  because  you  've  got  on  the 
right  side  of  that  Vaughan  !  I  '11  attend  to  my  own  af- 
fairs, and  yours,  too,  if  you  dare  tell  a  single  person  that 
I  've  been  here  !  " 

Then,  standing  over  Phil  to  prevent  him  from  rising, 
Dick  coolly  loaded  his  musket,  hung  the  horn  and  pouch 
about  his  person,  and  moved  slightly  toward  the  door. 

"  If  you  show  yourself  outside  this  shanty  for  the  next 
hour,  I  '11  shoot  you  down,"  he  said,  threateningly.  "  I  can 
hide  among  the  trees,  and  there 's  yet  light  enough  from 
your  fire  for  me  to  see  if  you  sneak  out.     Keep  a  close 


62  THE  BOYS  OF  1745. 

tongue  in  your  head  about  me  and  my  affairs,  or  you  '11 
never  reach  Portsmouth  again." 

Phil  was  too  deeply  engaged  in  thought  to  make  any 
reply  to  these  threats.  He  knew  it  was  his  duty  to  raise 
an  alarm,  regardless  of  whatever  danger  might  threaten 
him ;  but  if  he  should  do  so,  and  Dick  was  taken  prisoner, 
there  could  be  but  one  end  to  it  all.  To  give  his  old 
friend  up  would  be  condemning  him  to  death  without  a 
shadow  of  doubt,  and  that  he  shrank  from  doing. 

Dick  waited  a  few  moments  at  the  door  of  the  shanty, 
as  if  to  assure  himself  he  could  gain  the  shelter  of  the 
woods  without  being  seen  by  the  sentinels  near  the  water's 
edge,  and  then,  with  a  mocking  "good-by,"  disappeared. 

"  What  shall  I  do  .'' "  Phil  cried  when  he  was  alone.  "  If 
I  tell  that  he  is  on  the  island,  the  men  will  .soon  catch  him, 
and  even  though  I  'm  not  very  much  of  a  soldier,  I  know 
full  well  what  will  be  the  result." 

Then  came  the  thought  that  he  would  confide  in  Colonel 
Vaughan,  keeping  back  the  fact  that  it  was  Dick  who 
fired  the  shot  which  grazed  the  officer's  cheek,  and  plead 
with  him  to  use  his  influence  in  having  the  deserter 
punished  only  by  being  sent  home  in  disgrace. 

This  seemed  the  best  way  out  of  the  difficulty  which 
Dick  had  brought  upon  himself,  an'd  Phil  had  but  just 
decided  he  would  try  the  experiment  when  a  commanding 
\oice  was  heard,  apparently  but  a  short  distance  from  the 
shanty. 

"Halt,  or  I'll  fire!" 

Then  came  a  noise  as  of  scuffling  and  the  words  in  the 
same  voice : 


k}M,ffMi^ 


A    CONFESSION.  65 

"  Don't  make  the  mistake  of  trying  that  game  !  So,  it 
was  you  ?  I  had  just  a  suspicion  this  afternoon  when  I 
saw  your  footprints.  Now  march  ahead  of  me,  and  turn 
ever  so  slightly  to  the  right  or  the  left  if  you  wish  to 
die!" 

It  was  Colonel  Vaughan  who  had  spoken,  and  Phil 
understood  Dick  was  a  prisoner.  The  officer  knew  him 
as  the  would-be  assassin,  and,  such  being  the  case,  the 
deserter's  doom  was  indeed  sealed. 

Phil  sat  silent  and  motionless,  sick  with  apprehension 
regarding  the  boy  whom  he  had  called  a  friend,  when 
Dick  and  his  captor  entered,  the  former  pale  as  death, 
and  the  latter  holding  a  pistol  close  to  his  head. 

"  I  had  an  idea  my  trap  would  work,"  Colonel  Vaughan 
said  to  Phil,  and  the  boy  repeated,  in  amazement,  — 

"  Your  trap,  sir .-'  " 

"  Yes ;  I  ordered  you  to  remain  here,  believing  this 
deserter  would  pay  you  a  visit  if  there  were  not  too  many 
around." 

"How  did  you  know  he  was  alive.-*"  Phil  asked,  in  a 
tremulous  voice. 

"  I  had  no  suspicion  of  it  until  I  saw  the  prints  of 
Tyson's  shoes,  and  they  could  be  explained  in  no  other 
way.  Sanbourne  was  the  only  member  of  our  regiment 
missing,  and  I  concluded,  without  being  able  to  explain 
how  it  happened,  that  he  had  contrived  to  save  his  life. 
Now  call  some  of  the  men,  and  we  '11  have  him  taken  care 
of  for  the  night." 

Phil  obeyed  by  going  to  the  nearest  huts,  and  in  a  few 


66  THE  BOYS  OF  1745. 

moments  Dick  was  marched  away,  his  hands  tied  behind 
his  back  to  prevent  the  possibihty  of  an  escape. 

Colonel  Vaughan  remained  behind,  and  when  they  were 
alone  Phil  asked,  falteringly,  — 

"  Did  you  know —     Did  you  hear — " 

"  I  saw  him  when  he  came,  and  waited  where  I  could 
overhear  all  that  was  said,  for  I  wanted  his  own  version  of 
the  story.     You  should  have  told  me  he  was  here." 

"  It  would  have  been  the  same  as  condemning  him  to 
death,  sir,  and  I  could  n't  have  done  that,  for  he  and  I 
have  always  been  good  friends." 

"  He  acted  particularly  friendly  toward  you,  I  should 
judge,  from  what  I  heard." 

"  He  is  desperate.  This  soldiering  is  different  from 
what  he  expected  it  would  be,  and — " 

"There  is  no  reason  why  you  should  try  to  find  excuses 
for  him,  lad,"  the  officer  said,  as  Phil  hesitated.  "Tell 
me  when  you  have  seen  him  before." 

Phil  related  in  detail  the  story  of  Dick's  visit  on  the 
night  the  battery  was  abandoned,  and  concluded  by 
saying,  — 

"  If  he  could  be  made  to  understand  how  serious  his 
offence  is,  I  am  sure  he  would  act  differently." 

"  He  will  probably  find  out  when  he  is  brought  up  for 
trial." 

"  Then  you  are  to  send  him  home  .''  " 

"  There  is  no  necessity  for  that.  A  court-martial  will 
soon  settle  the  matter,  and  while  we  are  in  the  field  there 
will  be  little  chance  for  interference  in  his  behalf." 


A    CONFESSION.  67 

"But,  Colonel!"  Phil  cried,  in  an  agony  of  fear,  "you 
will  not  suffer  any  harm  to  come  —  I  mean  that  you  will 
not  allow  him  to  be  shot  for  deserting  ?  " 

"  It  is  not  probable  I  shall  have  any  voice  in  the 
matter.  A  certain  important  movement  will  be  made 
soon,  and  I  am  to  have  charge  of  it.  Remain  here  until  I 
send  for  you,  and  try  not  to  distress  yourself  over  such  a 
worthless  character  as  Sanbourne  has  shown  himself  to 
be." 

With  this  advice  Colonel  Vaughan  left  the  shanty,  and 
Phil  threw  himself  face  downward  upon  the  bed  in  bitter- 
est distress  of  mind. 


CHAPTER   V. 

A    NIGHT    ATTACK. 

IT  was  little  sleep  Phil  had  on  the  night  Dick  was 
captured.  He  could  not  drive  away  the  fear  that  he 
had  been  instrumental  in  bringing  about  the  present  con- 
dition of  affairs,  although  it  was  impossible  to  explain 
even  to  himself  how  that  could  be. 

Horrible  visions  of  his  friend  on  the  scaffold  rose  con- 
stantly before  his  eyes,  and  more  than  one  wild  scheme 
for  saving  the  misguided  boy  came  into  his  mind,  only  to 
be  dismissed  as  impracticable. 

"  I  would  do  anything,  regardless  of  my  duty  as  a 
soldier,  to  save  him  from  a  shameful  death,"  he  said,  over 
and  over  again  ;  "but  there  is  no  way  by  which  I  can  aid 
him,  except  through  the  kindness  of  Colonel  Vaughan, 
whom  he  tried  to  kill." 

Until  late  on  the  following  afternoon  he  was  left  to  his 
own  painful  reflections,  and  then  came  a  messenger  with 
word  that  he  was  wanted  at  headquarters. 

Almost  any  kind  of  action  was  preferable  to  remaining 
idle,  with  no  companion  but  the  terrible  thoughts  which 
would  not  be  banished,  and  Phil  hastened  to  obey  the 
summons. 

It  was  necessary  to  remain  outside  General  Pepperrell's 
quarters  some  time  before  Colonel  Vaughan  was  ready  to 

68 


A   NIGHT  ATTACK. 


69 


receive  him,  and  the  boy  had  ample  opportunity  to  ques- 
tion the  sentinel  on  duty. 

"  Do  you  know  what  was  done  with  the  prisoner  taken 
last  night  ? "  he  asked,  and  such  discipline  as  was  enforced 
in  the  encampment  did  not  prevent  the  soldier  from  halt- 
ing in  front  of  Phil  as  he  replied  by  another  question  : 

"  Did  you  know  the  young  scoundrel  ?  " 


"  We  both  live  in  Portsmouth,  and  he  has  always  been 
my  friend." 

"He  won't  play  the  friend  to  any  one  much  longer." 
"What  do  you  mean?"  Phil  asked,  the  words  coming 
with  difficulty  from  his  trembling  lips,  because  he  knew 
full  well  what  the  answer  would  be. 

"He'll  be  hanged,  as  he  deserves,  of  course." 
"But  he's  only  a  boy,  —  a  few  months  more  than  six- 
teen years  old." 

"  If  he  was  n't  half  that  age  the  punishment  would  n't 


yO  THE  BOYS  OF  1745. 

be  any  too  severe.  I  hear  he  's  been  over  to  the  enemy, 
and  most  likely  has  told  them  all  he  knows.  Then,  again, 
he  tried  to  kill  Colonel  Vaughan,  which  is  good  reason  for 
the  sentence  that  will  surely  be  pronounced." 

Phil  remained  silent  several  moments,  during  which  the 
soldier  resumed  his  leisurely  pacing  to  and  fro. 

Then  the  boy  asked  timidly,  as  he  walked  by  the  side  of 
the  man,  — 

"  Don't  you  think  General  Pepperrell  will  pardon  him  .? 
It  can't  be  he  would  allow  the  son  of  one  he  has  always 
been  friendly  with  to  be  hanged." 

"  If  I  believed  there  was  any  danger  the  young  fiend 
would  escape  death  I'd  shoot  him  down  this  minute!" 
the  soldier  cried,  angrily,  and  Phil  turned  away  in  despair. 

This  man's  opinion  was  probably  shared  by  many,  if 
not  all,  of  his  comrades,  and  the  deserter's  friend  began 
to  understand  that  perhaps  he  was  the  only  person  in  the 
encampment  who  sympathized  with  the  prisoner. 

At  this  moment  Colonel  Vaughan  appeared,  and  leading 
the  boy  a  few  paces  aside,  said  in  a  low  tone,  — 

"  It  had  been  promised  that  I  should  lead  an  attack  this 
night ;  but  the  men  have  stipulated  for  Captain  Brooks 
to  command  them,  and  I  am  forced  to  lose  the  sport  or 
follow  as  a  private,  therefore  I  cannot  take  you  with 
me." 

"  Shall  you  volunteer  .-'" 

"  Certainly.  The  plan  is  all  my  own,  and  I  want  to  see 
how  it  is  carried  out." 

"  Then  what  prevents  me  from  doing  the  same  thing  ^  " 


A    NIGHT  ATTACK.  7 1 

"  You  can  if  you  choose,  and  I  '11  be  glad  to  have  you. 
Brooks  is  not  the  kind  of  a  man  who  will  take  advice  from 
me,  and  we  shall  be  obliged  to  follow  his  instructions, 
whether  they  be  wise  or  not ;  but  there  will  be  plenty  of 
fighting,  which  is  what  all  of  us  need  just  now." 

"  In  what  way  shall  I  volunteer  t  "  Phil  asked,  thinking 
he  would  rather  be  engaged  in  any  dangerous  service  than 
remain  in  camp  dwelling  upon  Dick's  terrible  fate. 

"I  will  attend  to  that  part  of  it.  We  should  go  now, 
for  the  expedition  starts  from  the  Grand  Battery,  and 
there  is  no  time  to  lose,  if  we  would  join  the  party." 

Phil  was  ready  as  soon  as  he  replenished  his  supply  of 
ammunition,  and  the  two  set  out  in  silence.  Colonel 
Vaughan  was  in  no  mood  for  conversation,  because  of  his 
disappointment  at  not  being  allowed  to  lead  the  assaulting 
party,  while  Phil  could  think  only  of  his  former  friend. 

On  arriving  at  their  destination  Colonel  Vaughan  ^ent 
directly  to  Brigadier  Waldo,  who  still  remained  in  charge  of 
the  battery  abandoned  by  the  French,  and  then  it  was  that 
Phil  began  to  realize  the  danger  which  might  be  en- 
countered. 

"As  the  matter  is  being  arranged,"  Waldo  said  to  his 
friend,  "  it  is  a  foolhardy  piece  of  business,  and  can  only 
result  in  disaster.  I  have  written  to  the  general  that  I 
doubt  most  seriously  whether  straggling  fellows,  three, 
four,  or  seven  out  of  a  company,  ought  to  go  on  such  a 
service,  for  there  will  be  no  concert  of  action  among  them. 
What  makes  it  the  more  foolish,  is  that  many  of  them  are 
under  the  influence  of  liquor,  and  should  be  under  guard. 


72  THE  BOYS  OF  1745. 

instead  of  trying  to  surprise  a  detachment  of  regulars 
within  particularly  strong  works," 

Then  the  brigadier  was  summoned  by  one  of  his  officers 
who  was  superintending  the  making  ready  of  the  boats, 
and  Phil  asked, — 

"What  is  the  service  we  are  going  on  ?  " 

"  I  have  proposed  that  an  assault  be  made  upon  the 
Island  Battery,  which  commands  the  harbour,  and  pre- 
vents our  ships  from  entering.  I  believe  the  works  could 
be  carried,  but  not  in  such  a  way  as  is  to  be  tried." 

"  Do  you  still  intend  to  accompany  the  party,  sir  ?  " 

"  Most  certainly ;  but  since  matters  are  in  the  condi- 
tion described  by  Waldo,  perhaps  you  had  better  remain 
behind." 

"  I  would  prefer  to  go  with  you,  sir."  ' 

"  Very  well,  then,  we  '11  say  no  more  about  it.  Stay 
here  where  I  can  find  you  without  difficulty,  and  I  '11  take 
a  turn  around  the  battery." 

Three  hours  later  Phil  saw  the  colonel  again,  and  the 
moment  had  arrived  for  departure.  It  was  so  dark  when 
he  stood  on  the  beach  that  he  could  not  decide  how  many 
boats  were  to  be  used  to  transport  the  soldiers,  but  in  the 
gloom  it  appeared  as  if  there  must  have  been  at  least 
twenty. 

He  followed  the  colonel  into  one  of  them,  which  already 
appeared  overloaded,  and  the  frail  craft  was  paddled, 
instead  of  rowed,  out  over  the  wind-swept  waters,  the 
boisterous  waves  dashing  over  her  gunwale  every  few 
seconds,  obliging  the  men  to  bail  incessantly  in  order  to 
keep  her  afloat. 


wj 


A    NIGHT  ATTACK.  75 

Then  came  the  dangerous  work  of  disembarking  while 
the  surf  was  dashing  high  upon  the  rocks  on  either  side 
of  the  narrow  cove,  and  when  about  half  the  force  were 
on  shore,  they  broke  the  silence  by  three  cheers,  regard- 
less of  the  fact  that  they  had  come  for  the  purpose  of 
surprising  the  enemy. 

"  That  settles  the  fate  of  this  attempt,"  Colonel  Vaughan 
said,  in  a  low,  angry  tone  to  Phil.  "  I  cannot  understand 
what  Brooks  is  thinking  of  to  let  the  men  announce  their 
presence  when  he  is  not  prepared  for  the  attack !  " 

Before  a  reply  could  have  been  made  to  this  remark  a 
sudden  glare  illumined  the  darkness  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  the  battery,  and  from  out  of  it  came  a  perfect 
hail  of  iron  missiles.  It  seemed  to  Phil  as  if  every  living 
thing  on  that  narrow  strip  of  shore  must  be  mowed  down 
by  the  shower  of  balls  and  bullets,  yet  he  himself  re- 
mained untouched  after  the  deadly  fire  had  continued 
several  seconds. 

Finally,  high  above  the  roaring  of  the  heavy  guns,  could 
be  heard  the  command  of  Captain  Brooks  for  his  men  to 
advance,  and  Colonel  Vaughan  cried  to  Phil,  — 

'•  It  is  little  less  than  suicide,  lad ;  but  we  must  not  be 
the  ones  to  show  the  white  feather.  It  is  simply  a 
slaughter  of  the  men,  without  possibility  of  success  ;  yet 
we  are  bound  to  obey  orders." 

After  the  first  flush  of  fear  Phil  forgot  the  danger,  and 
eager  to  prove  to  the  officer  who  had  shown  him  so  much 
kindness  that  he  was  not  a  coward,  pressed  boldly 
forward,  stumbling  here  over  the  bodies  of  the  fallen,  or 


76  THE  BOYS  OF  1745. 

making  a  detour  there  to  avoid  a  group  who  were 
shooting  at  the  stone  walls,  regardless  of  their  com- 
mander's orders. 

Phil  was  at  the  very  foot  of  the  works,  where  scaling- 
ladders  were  being  raised,  and  had  already  begun  to 
ascend  one  when  a  bright  flash  burst  directly  in  his  eyes ; 
there  came  a  sudden  sensation  of  numbness,  and  all  was  a 
blank. 

When  next  he  was  conscious,  an  intense  pain  asserted 
itself  in  his  left  shoulder ;  it  seemed  as  if  his  clothing  had 
been  glued  to  that  portion  of  his  body,  and  he  was  rising 
and  falling  as  though  suspended  in  nyd-air. 

"  Where  am  I .? "  he  asked,  feebly,  surprised  that  it  was 
not  possible  to  speak  louder. 

"With  a  dozen  or  more  nearly  as  badly  wounded  as 
yourself,  heading  for  our  own  side  of  the  harbour,"  a 
voice  replied. 

"  Am  I  wounded  .-•  " 

"  That  you  are,  and  badly,  so  I  'm  told.  I  've  lost  part 
of  one  foot,  but  that  V  a  hurt  I  shall  soon  get  over." 

Phil  fancied  the  man  intended  to  convey  the  idea  that 
he  might  not  recover,  and  he  mildly  wondered  whether 
death  in  such  a  form  would  be  painful. 

"You  can  thank  Colonel  Vaughan  that  you're  here, 
instead  of  being  left  on  the  beach  at  the  mercy  of  the 
enemy.  He  it  was  who  lugged  you  on  his  back  through 
the  surf,  when  it  was  all  a  man  could  do  to  care  for 
himself,  much  less  come  off  hampered  with  a  burden." 

"Is  the  colonel  safe  ? "  Phil  asked,  after  a  brief  silence. 


.4    NIGHT  ATTACK.  J  J 

"  Ay,  that  he  is,  and  in  one  of  the  other  boats.  If  he 
had  had  command  of  this  expedition,  I  'm  thinking  we 
would  n't  be  crawling  back  like  disabled  crabs,  leaving 
behind  half  of  those  who  started  out  with  us." 

"  Then  it  has  all  been  a  failure  .■*  " 

"  Yes,  so  far  as  the  Island  Battery  is  concerned,  and 
weak  leadership  killed  the  only  chance  we  had  of  taking 
it ;  but  the  city  will  fall  into  our  hands  some  day,  please 
God,  and  I  '11  have  given  one  foot  toward  the  general 
result,  though  it  seems  a  wicked  waste  of  flesh  and  blood 
to  give  them  up  in  such  a  foolish  attack  as  this  has 
proved  to  be."  • 

Phil  heard  the  last  words  but  faintly ;  the  pain  of  his 
wounds  was  rapidly  overcoming  him,  and  before  the  boat 
with  her  cargo  of  suffering  humanity  gained  the  land  he 
was  unconscious  again. 

When  he  next  realized  anything,  he  heard  a  strange 
voice  say, — 

"  He  may  pull  through,  with  youth  and  strength  on  his 
side ;  but  it  will  be  a  narrow  squeeze.  Do  not  attempt  to 
move  him,  and  in  forty-eight  hours  we  shall  know  the  result." 

Phil  was  lying  on  a  softer  bed  than  he  had  enjoyed 
since  leaving  home,  and  without  touching  those  portions 
of  his  body  which  were  causing  him  so  much  pain,  he 
knew  the  wounds  had  been  bandaged. 

Once  he  fancied  Colonel  Vaughan  bent  over  him,  laying 
a  cool  hand  on  his  burning  head  ;  but  it  was  impossible  to 
distinguish  either  word  or  action  very  clearly.  He  was  in 
a  stupor  not  unlike  a  disagreeable  dream. 


78  THE  BOYS  OF  1746. 

At  times  the  pain  seemed  overpowering,  and  then  he 
would  sink  into  what  might  have  been  a  swoon,  only  to 
arouse  suddenly  to  the  knowledge  that  he  had  been  se- 
riously wounded,  —  was,  perhaps,  dying. 

He  was  in  a  log  hut,  which  evidently  contained  two 
apartments,  and  in  front  of  the  inner  door  a  soldier  stood, 
as  if  on  guard. 

It  was  day  when  he  understood  this  much,  and  he 
believed  but  a  few  hours  after  the  disastrous  attack  had 
been  made. 

When  next  he  took  note  of  his  surroundings,  another 
night  had  come.  Only  he  and  the  sentinel  were  in  the 
room,  and  he  wondered  why  a  guard  should  be  there. 

He  moved  slightly,  and  the  soldier  stepped  quickly  to 
his  side. 

"  Are  you  here  to  take  care  of  me  .-*  "  Phil  whispered, 
and  the  man  shook  his  head. 

"  I  'm  on  duty  to  make  certain  that  young  deserter 
don't  slip  through  our  fingers  again,"  and  the  sentinel 
pointed  toward  the  door. 

Instantly  he  understood  it  all.  Dick  was  confined  in 
the  next  room,  and  since  the  hut  had  not  been  built 
strongly  enough  for  a  prison,  a  guard  was  stationed  over 
him. 

"  Do  you  think  they  will  punish  him  .' "  he  next  asked. 

"  That  they  will !  Bless  you,  it  has  all  been  settled  in 
proper  order.  When  the  sun  rises  again  you  won't  be 
troubled  by  having  a  sentinel  here." 

During  a  moment  Phil  believed  he  was  on  the  point  of 


A    NIGHT  ATTACK.  79 

swooning  once  more.  "  When  the  sun  rises  again  ! " 
That  was  as  much  as  if  the  man  had  said  when  another 
day  dawned  Dick  Sanbourne  would  pay  the  extreme 
penalty  for  his  misdeeds  ! 

The  wounded  boy  struggled  desperately  to  resist  the 
sensation  of  faintness  which  was  creeping  over  him.  He 
believed  it  was  absolutely  necessary  to  retain  possession 
of  all  his  faculties,  although  he  had  no  idea  that  it  might 
be  possible  for  him  to  aid  the  condemned  prisoner. 

When  the  sentinel  took  up  his  station  by  the  door 
again,  Phil  began  to  wonder  why  it  was  the  trial  and 
sentence  had  followed  so  quickly.  He  knew  nothing  had 
been  done  in  that  way  when  he  left  headquarters  with 
Colonel  Vaughan,  and  yet  the  entire  matter  seemed  to  be 
settled. 

It  was  a  long  while  before  he  managed  to  whisper, — 

"  When  did  —  did  Dick  have  his  trial }  " 

"  The  day  before  yesterday." 

"Why,  it  was  then  we  made  the  attack." 

"  You  've  lost  run  of  the  days,  lad,  that 's  all." 

"  How  long  have  I  been  here  }  " 

"  You  were  wounded  Monday  night,  and  to-morrow  is 
Saturday." 


CHAPTER   VI. 

AN    APPEAL, 

GRIEVOUSLY  wounded  though  he  was,  Phil  forgot 
his  own  suffering  as  he  thought  of  the  mental 
agony  which  the  unhappy  prisoner  must  be  enduring. 

It  was  almost  maddening  to  realize  that  he  was  power- 
less to  stay  the  sentence  of  the  military  court, —  that  a 
boy,  who  until  lately  had  been  his  friend,  would  soon  be 
executed. 

For  an  instant  he  resolved  to  demand  an  audience  with 
General  Pepperrell,  in  order  to  beg  for  pardon ;  but  a  brief 
time  of  reflection  was  sufficient  to  convince  him  that  the 
general  would  not  listen  to  his  prayer  against  the  judg- 
ment of  his  officers. 

Could  Colonel  Vaughan  effect  anything.''  Phil  doubted 
if  that  were  possible,  or,  being  so,  whether  he  would 
make  an  effort  to  save  the  life  of  one  who  had  tried  to 
murder  him. 

The  sentinel,  at  a  loss  to  account  for  his  sudden  silence, 
drew  nearer  the  couch  to  look  at  the  wounded  boy. 

"  What  time  is  it  ? "  he  asked  of  the  man. 

"  It  lacks  about  half  an  hour  of  midnight,  when  I  shall 
be  relieved." 

"  Would  you  do  me  a  favour.^  " 

"  Of  course  I  would,  lad  !      I  'm  told  you  showed  true 

80 


AN  APPEAL.  8 1 

grit  at  the  assault  when  the  odds  were  all  against  our 
side,  and  I  'm  not  the  only  one  who  is  proud  of  what  you 
have  done." 

'•  I  want  to  speak  with  the  prisoner  a  moment.  He 
and  I  are  old  friends  ;  we  came  from  the  same  town ;  I 
cannot  bear  to  think  of  his  being  led  away  to  a  cruel 
death  before  I  have  had  a  chance  to  say  good-by." 

"I  don't  know  why  you  shouldn't  go  in,"  the  sentinel 
said,  thoughtfully,  "though  it  won't  be  a  very  pleasant 
visit.  The  doctor  might  think  you  oughtn't  to  move 
around  so  much,  for  he  said  it  wouldn't  be  safe  to 
carry  you  to  Colonel  Vaughan's  quarters,  and  he  is 
lodged  but  a  short  distance  away." 

"  It  can  do  me  no  harm,  —  surely  not  as  much  as  lying 
here  eating  my  heart  out  with  sorrow  for  the  poor  fellow," 
and  Phil  made  one  attempt  to  rise,  but  fell  back  utterly 
exhausted  with  the  faint  effort. 

'•That  young  villain  isn't  worth  a  thought  from  you," 
the  soldier  said,  emphatically,  as  in  his  rude  way  he  tried 
to  move  the  invalid's  head  to  a  more  comfortable  position. 

"  You  would  n't  say  so  if  he  was  an  old  friend  of 
yours." 

"  Perhaps  not,  lad,  perhaps  not.  It  don't  stand  to 
reason  you're  hardened  to  such  things  yet;  but  you  soon 
will  be  if  you  continue  soldiering." 

"  I  must  go  to  see  him,"  Phil  cried,  and  again  he 
attempted  unsuccessfully  to  move. 

"Come,  come,  we  can't  have  anything  more  like  that," 
the  sentinel  said,  in  what  he  intended  should  be  a  sooth- 


82  THE  BOYS  OF  1745. 

ing  tone.  "  Another  struggle  and  you  '11  set  the  blood  to 
flowing.  It  would  be  the  price  of  your  life  to  walk  from 
here  to  where  he  is." 

"  I  can't  help  it ;  I  'm  determined  to  go  if  such  a  thing 
be  possible.     Most  likely  it's  my  last  chance." 

"But  I  won't  allow  you  to  take  the  risk,"  and  now  the 
soldier  spoke  sternly.  "  That  fellow  isn't  worth  the  pain 
you're  enduring  through  him,  and  I  '11  put  a  stop  to  it." 

"  Do  you  mean  you  won't  let  me  go  where  he  is  ? " 

"I'll  bring  him  here.  I  reckon  it  isn't  jest  what  a 
sentinel  oughter  do ;  but  if  you  're  bent  on  seeing  him,  it 
shall  be  done.  I  've  had  no  orders  agin  it,  and  will  be 
bound  there  ain't  the  least  show  of  his  getting  away  while 
I  stand  at  the  door." 

The  man  did  not  wait  for  Phil  to  reply,  but  went  at 
once  to  the  inner  room,  and  the  invalid  trembled  with 
excitement  as  he  waited  for  his  comrade  who  was  so  soon 
to  be  put  to  death. 

The  interview  was  not  long  delayed. 

Phil  could  hear  a  confused  sound,  which  he  fancied  was 
caused  by  the  efforts  of  the  soldier  to  remove  the  fetters 
from  the  prisoner's  limbs,  and  then  Dick  appeared. 

Had  he  seen  him  anywhere  else  Phil  would  not  have 
recognized  him  as  the  lad  who  sailed  from  Portsmouth  in 
the  good  sloop  "Vigilant." 

He  no  longer  walked  erect,  with  head  carried  well 
back,  as  if  glorying  in  his  youth  and  strength,  but  was 
bent,  like  an  old  man,  while  on  every  feature  of  his  face 
was  written  the  story  of  most  abject  terror. 


AN  APPEAL. 


83 


"  Oh,  Phil !  Phil !  "  he  cried,  coming  forward  as  fast  as 
the  soldier  would  permit,  and  throwing  himself  down  by 
the  wounded  boy's  side.  "  Does  it  seem  possible  that  they 
have  the  right  to  kill  me !  Save  me,  Phil !  Save  me ! 
I  know  you  can,  because  every  one  is  telling  how  brave 
you  have  been  !  " 

"Poor  Dick!  Poor  Dick!"  and  Phil  laid  his  hand  on 


the  boy's  head.  "  It  is  hard,  oh,  so  hard !  but  I  can  do 
nothing.     No  one  would  listen  to  me." 

"  There  is  not  another  person  here  who  will  speak  for 
me,  and  you  must  do  something !  I  can't  die  now !  I 
cant,  Phil,  and  I  have  n't  a  friend  left,  for  every  one  thinks 
death  is  only  what  I  deserve." 

"  There 's  no  use  in  going  on  that  way,"  the  sentinel 
said,  gruffl}'.  "  You  won't  do  yourself  any  good,  and  I 
sha'n't  allow  you   to  make  Phil  worse  by  such  outcries. 


84  THE  BOYS  OF  1745. 

You  should  have  thought  of  all  this  back  there  at  Can- 
seau,  where  you  set  up  in  opposition  to  all  hands." 

"I  didn't  think  they  would  dare  to  kill  me." 

"  And  because  of  not  thinking,  many  another  person 
has  got  himself  into  trouble.  If  there 's  anything  you 
want  to  say  privately  to  Phil,  go  ahead ;  I  '11  give  you  one 
chance,  though  I  've  precious  little  sympath}-  for  you,  by 
going  near  the  door  where  I  sha'n't  overhear  what 's  said. 
You  must  talk  fast,  though,  for  the  relief  will  be  coming 
soon." 

The  soldier  stepped  back  near  the  outside  door,  and, 
leaning  over  the  wounded  boy,  Dick  continued  in  whispers 
to  beg  him  to  save  his  life. 

It  was  most  distressing  to  Phil.  Gladly  would  he  have 
given  anything,  —  everything,  simply  to  soothe  the  dis- 
tracted prisoner,  yet  there  was  nothing  he  could  say. 

After  his  first  outburst  Dick  appeared  to  grow  calmer, 
and  whispered,  cautiously,  — 

"  Except  for  the  fact  that  I  am  tied  hand  and  foot,  I 
could  have  escaped  at  almost  any  time  within  the  last  two 
days.  Could  n  't  you  give  me  one  chance,  Phil }  Just 
think  how  horrible  it  will  be  to  die  in  such  a  way !  Cant 
you  make  up  your  mind  to  help  me }  " 

"  What  cou/d  I  do,  Dick  ?  " 

"  There  must  be  a  chance  between  now  and  daylight  to 
untie  the  ropes  —  I  only  ask  you  to  untie  one  !  I  can  get 
through  the  side  of  the  hut,  where  a  couple  of  logs  are 
loose." 

"But  even  then  what  would  you  do.-*" 


AN  APPEAL.  85 

"1  don't  know,  Phil.  Hide  in  the  woods  till  the  troops 
leave ;  it  would  be  better  to  starve  there  than  be  hanged 
like  a  dog  to-morrow  morning." 

"  I  reckon  you  two  had  best  be  parted  now ;  there  's  no 
use  spending  a  long  time  when  it  must  come  at  last,  and 
the  sooner  this  thing  is  ended  the  better  for  both,"  the 
sentinel  said,  gruffly,  as  he  came  toward  the  bed. 

Phil  had  just  time  before  the  man  forced  Dick  away  to 
whisper  in  the  despairing  boy's  ear, — 

"  If  there 's  the  least  chance  for  me  to  do  what  you 
want,  I  will,  and  watch  as  anxiously  as  you  would  for  the 
opportunity." 

Then  the  prisoner  was  led  back ;  the  ropes  fastened 
once  more  around  his  limbs,  as  Phil  fancied  from  the 
sound,  and  the  sentinel  returned  to  his  post. 

The  invalid  closed  his  eyes,  that  he  might  the  better 
think  of  what  he  had  promised,  and  while  he  was  thus 
apparently  resting  comfortably,  the  sentinel  who  was  to 
guard  the  condemned  until  the  last  moment  arrived. 

The  two  men  spoke  together  in  low  tones  a  few  seconds,, 
and  then  he  who  had  been  so  kind  took  his  departure. 

Unless  an  opportunity  to  assist  Dick  should  occur 
within  three  hours  it  would  be  too  late,  and  Phil  realized 
that  he  must  be  fully  alive  to  everything  around  him.  A 
short  time  previous  it  had  been  impossible  to  so  much  as 
raise  his  head ;  but  now  he  was  resolved  to  get  into  the 
next  room,  if  he  could  do  so  secretly,  even  though  at  the, 
cost  of  his  own  life. 

The  sentinel  looked  in  at  the  prisoner;  paced  to  and 


86  THE  BOYS  OF  1745. 

fro  from  one  door  to  another,  and  then  seated  himself  near 
the  invahd's  bed. 

Watching  eagerly  from  beneath  his  half-closed  lids,  Phil 
saw  the  man  nod  from  time  to  time,  and  it  was  evident  he 
was  doing  his  best  to  fight  off  the  inclination  to  slumber. 

Finally  he  seemed  to  realize  that  it  would  be  impossible 
to  keep  his  eyes  open  while  in  this  position,  for  he  leaped 
suddenly  to  his  feet,  and  began  walking  back  and  forth 
energetically. 

Ten  minutes  passed  in  this  exercise,  and  then  the 
soldier  drew  from  his  pocket  a  pipe  and  knife. 

"  Blest  if  I  've  got  so  much  as  a  crumb  of  tobacco,"  he 
muttered,  after  searching  his  pockets  carefully.  "  I  can't 
stay  here  all  night  without  a  smoke  ! " 

Glancing  first  at  the  door  of  the  room  in  which  the 
prisoner  was  confined,  and  then  toward  the  wounded  boy, 
the  sentinel  stood  irresolutely  in  the  centre  of  the  apart- 
ment while  one  might  have  counted  twenty. 

"  There  's  no  risk  in  going,  for  this  boy  is  too  weak  to 
help  himself,  and  the  other  is  tied  where  he  can't  do 
more  'n  wink.  There  's  precious  little  danger  of  meeting 
an  officer  around  the  encampment  at  this  time  of  the 
night ;  all  hands  of  'em  like  their  comfort  too  well  to  turn 
out  when  there  's  no  particular  reason  for  so  doing." 

Leaving  his  gun  leaning  against  the  wall,  he  went  out 
into  the  night,  and  the  opportunity  so  ardently  desired  by 
Phil  had  come. 

When  the  sound  of  the  soldier's  footsteps  died  away  in 
the  distance,   the   invalid   raised   himself    slowly,  battling 


I  I 


AN  APPEAL.  89 

most  desperately  against  the  deathly  faintness  which 
threatened  to  overcome  him,  and  stood  swaying  from 
side  to  side  like  one  who  has  received  a  mortal  blow. 

Twice  did  he  make  the  attempt  before  gaining  the 
door,  and  then  he  lurched  into  the  room  where  Dick  lay, 
unable  to  guide  his  own  steps. 

How  he  succeeded  in  unfastening  the  ropes  he  never 
knew ;  but  finally,  he  was  dimly  conscious  of  the  fact  that 
it  had  been  done,  and  made  a  supreme  effort  to  regain  the 
bed. 

He  realized,  or  thought  he  did,  that  the  prisoner 
thanked  him  fervently,  and  promised  sacredly  he  should 
never  regret  having  given  him  a  chance  for  life ;  but  the 
words  were  more  like  a  murmur  of  the  sea,  which  even 
then  was  beating  against  the  rocky  coast  to  give  warning 
of  a  fast-gathering  storm. 

F'rom  that  instant  the  thunder  of  all  the  guns  which 
had  been  hurling  death  and  destruction  into  the  doomed 
city  would  not  have  been  heard  by  him. 

When  the  sentinel  returned  with  the  tobacco  which  had 
seemed  so  necessary  to  his  comfort,  Phil  was  lying  on  the 
bed  with  the  blood  flowing  from  his  mouth,  apparently 
dead. 

More  than  once  had  the  doctor  stated  that  the  invalid 
might  die  suddenly  of  hemorrhage,  and  the  frightened 
sentinel  believed  the  predictions  were  fulfilled. 

Without  stopping  to  look  in  upon  the  prisoner,  he  ran 
with  all  speed  for  the  physician,  and  the  moment  for 
Dick's  escape  had  arrived. 


90  THE  BOYS  OF  1746. 

When  Phil  next  opened  his  eyes  to  the  things  of  this 
world  he  was  lying  on  such  a  bed  as  he  had  never 
dreamed  of  before,  in  a  room  bright  with  gay  hangings, 
and  bearing  everywhere  the  marks  of  a  woman's  hand. 

By  the  side  of  the  bed  sat  Colonel  Vaughan,  who  was 
regarding  the  pale,  wasted  boy  with  something  very  like 
affection,  as  he  said,  triumphantly,— 

"  I  knew,  under  Madame  Pinchon's  motherly  care,  you 
would  recover,  even  though  the  doctor  did  insist  you  must 
surely  die ! " 

"  What  has  happened?"  Phil  asked,  in  a  tone  so  low 
that  it  was  hardly  more  than  a  whisper. 

"  Many  things,  my  boy,  which  it  will  give  you  pleasure 
to  hear,  the  most  important  being  that  the  city  was  sur- 
rendered nearly  a  week  ago,  and  you  are  now  quartered  in 
the  home  of  a  certain  Antoine  Pinchon,  whose  lodger  I  also 
am.  A  vessel  sailed  for  Boston  shortly  before  the  capitu- 
lation, and  General  Pepperrell  sent  a  purse  of  money  to  your 
mother,  which  will  relieve  her  of  all  pecuniary  troubles 
for  some  time  to  come.  Finally,  you  have  been  acting 
the  part  of  a  dead  boy  for  nearly  three  weeks,  and  it  is 
high  time  you  began  to  assume  the  bearing  of  a  live  one." 

Phil  waited  to  hear  more,  but  the  colonel  leaned  back 
in  his  chair  as  if  his  budget  of  news  was  exhausted. 

"  Do  you  know  anything  about, —  is  Dick  alive  .-*  " 

"  Look  here,  my  boy,  do  you  chance  to  know  anything 
of  his  escape .''  " 

"  I  helped  him,  and  want  to  make  a  confession  to  the 
""cneral." 


AA'  APPEAL. 


91 


"  I  suspected  you  had  a  hand  in  the  matter,  and  advise 
you  to  remain  silent  on  the  subject.  No  good  can  come 
of  making  an}'  confession,  and  the  least  said  is  the 
soonest  mended.  It  may  interest  you  to  know,  however, 
that  he  has  left  the  island." 

"  How  did  you  learn  that  V 

"  One  of  the   natives  told  me   he  had  seen    the    boy 


skulking  in  the  woods,  and  I  took  it  upon  myself  to  find 
an  opportunity  for  him  to  sail.  His  death  would  have 
done  no  good  ;  the  soldiers  are  so  undisciplined  that  the 
execution  would  not  have  been  a  lesson  in  the  truest 
sense,  and  after  his  painful  experience  he  may  mend  his 
ways." 

Then  the  colonel  told  the  story  of  the  siege  and  final 
surrender  of  the  city  in  all  its  details,  and  concluded  by 


92  THE  BO  YS  OF  1745. 

Stating  that  Phil  was  to  be  sent  home  in  the  next  vessel 
that  sailed  after  he  was  sufficiently  strong  to  undertake 
the  journey. 

Par  km  an  writes : 

"The  news  that  Louisbourg  was  taken  reached  Boston  at  one 
o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  3rd  of  July,  by  a  vessel  sent  express. 
A  din  of  bells  and  cannon  proclaimed  it  to  the  slumbering 
townsmen,  and  before  the  sun  rose,  the  streets  were  filled  with 
shouting  crowds.  At  night  every  window  shone  with  lamps,  and 
the  town  was  ablaze  with  fireworks  and  bonfires.  The  next 
Thursday  was  appointed  a  day  of  general  thanksgiving  for  a 
victory  believed  to  be  the  direct  work  of  Providence.  New  York 
and  Philadelphia  also  hailed  the  great  news  with  illuminations, 
ringing  of  bells,  and  firing  of  cannon. 

"  In  England  the  tidings  were  received  with  astonishment  and 
joy  that  was  dashed  with  reflections  on  the  strength  and  mettle  of 
colonists  supposed  already  to  aspire  to  independence.  Pepperrell 
was  made  a  baronet,  and  Warren  an  admiral.  The  merchant 
soldier  was  commissioned  colonel  in  the  British  Army;  a  regiment 
was  given  him,  to  be  raised  in  America  and  maintained  by  the  king, 
while  a  similar  recognition  was  granted  to  the  lawyer,  Shirley." 

Goold  writes  : 

"  Beside  being  honoured  with  knighthood.  General  Pepperrell  was 
presented  by  the  Corporation  of  London  with  a  dinner  service  and 
a  silver  side-table  on  which  to  display  it.  To  my  knowledge,  there 
is  no  published  description  of  this  numerous  table  service,  or  the 
table  which  was  made  to  bear  it.  At  the  time  of  its  arrival  at 
Kittery  Point,  there  was,  probably,  no  set  of  plate  in  New  England 
approaching  it  in  extent  or  elegance." 

Not  until  thirty  years  had  elapsed  did  Phil  hear  of  or 
see  Dick. 


CONCLUSION.  93 

Then  he  was  a  captain  in  the  Continental  Army,  on  the 
staff  of  the  commander-in-chief,  and  visited  Cambridge  on 
military  business,  when  he  was  surprised  at  being  ac- 
costed familiarly  by  a  private  soldier  belonging  to  a  regi- 
ment from  Connecticut.  It  was  Richard  Sanboume, 
who,  since  his  escape  from  the  colonial  forces  in  front  of 
Louisbourg,  had  lived  an  upright,  honest  life,  and  now,  as 
he  explained  to  Captain  Towle,  was  trying  to  redeem 
himself  as  a  soldier. 


THE    END. 


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